New Labor and Immigration laws in Russia and their Impacts on Central Asian Immigrant Workers

Adam  Saud; Irfan Hussain  Qaisrani

doi:10.54418/ca-87.117

Authors

Adam Saud Professor and Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Bahriya University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Irfan Hussain Qaisrani Assistant Professor, Bahriya University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54418/ca-87.117

Keywords:

Labor Migration, Russia, Central Asia, New Labor Laws, Harsh Working Conditions, Hate Crimes.

Abstract

Russia is the second largest destination for immigrant workers after USA in the world. A vast majority, almost one third of this migrant labor force, comes from Central Asian states particularly Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Millions of workers from these countries contribute substantially to their national economies. A series of new labor and immigration laws introduced by Russian Federation has toughened the workers economic and social conditions. Immigrant workers have to face discrimination by Russian society as well as authorities. Police, after execution of new laws, routinely check ‘Asian’ immigrant workers and extort money from them. The new laws have forced many of the workers to leave Russia either to their home countries or to new destinations especially Kazakhstan and Turkey.

This article tries to explore the reasons for labor migration from Central Asian states to Russia and the treatment they get from both Russian authorities and society. The major focus is on series of new laws implemented by Russia. The research is primarily exploratory, descriptive and analytical in nature.

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