LABOR FORCE RECRUITMENT TO THE OECD AND MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN: TRENDS, MECHANISMS, CONSEQUENCES

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The article examines the trends in labor migration from Tajikistan. Although Russia and Kazakhstan remain the main labor migration destinations for Tajiks, emigration from Tajikistan to OECD countries is becoming increasingly more noticeable. New Tajik communities are actively forming in the OECD countries, potentially becoming networks of attraction for new migrants in the near future. The forms of labor migrant recruitment in Tajikistan, including digital technologies, are examined. Despite Tajikistan’s attempts to regulate labor migration more actively on the basis of bilateral agreements with OECD countries, Russia still remains attractive for Tajik labor migrants. So far, Russia’s competitive advantages are the absence of a language barrier, the absence of the need to obtain a visa and work permit, a common mentality, and the prospects for obtaining citizenship. However, the rigidity of migration policy and the drop in wages in Russia are potential negative factors that will contribute to the reversal of some of the labor migrant flows from Tajikistan in favor of the OECD countries. Also, the active participation of intermediaries in migrant employment, as well as the OECD countries’ active policy that aims to attract labor migrants will lead to Russia’s loss of a significant part of Tajikistan’s migration potential. The possibility of reorientation of a part of labor emigrants to OECD countries is becoming feasible due to the widespread study of the English language in Tajikistan and the cutbacks in teaching the Russian language, the active development of private and state labor force recruiting systems.