Влияние COVID-19 на граждан Молдовы, работающих за рубежом

Abstract

The COVID 19 pandemic and its consequences have changed the lives of migrants around the world. It affected all spheres of people’s life, from the health and education systems to the economy and politics. Migrants who were carrying out work abroad during the outbreak of the pandemic literally became hostages of the situation, many lost their jobs and were forced to return home. However, at home many of them became unexpected guests, so that they hope to be able to return back to where they came from as soon as the borders are opened, and resume their working days in order to continue to provide for their families. In the article, the author examines labour migration from the Republic of Moldova during the COVID 19 pandemic and analyses its impact on citizens who work abroad. It is noted that Moldova is a country where a third of the employable age population is working abroad. In 2019–2020, many migrants had to return to their homeland and adapt to new living conditions, including finding a job at home, with a relatively high unemployment rate in the country. It is emphasized that since the end of 2019, when the pandemic began, despite the “crisis” that has arisen, money transfers have not decreased, but, on the contrary, have broken the maximum record since 2008. In order to identify the impact of the pandemic on migrants, a survey was conducted among Moldovan citizens who work abroad, and they were asked to answer the following questions: where they work; what their education level is; on what grounds they live in the country where they work; how their employment has changed since the start of the pandemic; if they have tried to return to their homeland with the outbreak of the pandemic; if they received financial assistance, and from whom, during the pandemic; how their income has changed during the pandemic; if they made money transfers home during the pandemic, and in what quantity. To sun up, it can be said that, not only the COVID 19 pandemic, but also the poor economic situation in the country led to mass migration from the country and instability among its citizens abroad.