Kazakhstan: Every Third Labor Migrant in Country Illegally

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) surveyed foreigners working in Kazakhstan. They learned that more than a third of labor migrants are not legally in the country, Orda.kz reports.

The anonymous survey was conducted in eight regions of Kazakhstan, Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent and involved 1,845 migrants. Most respondents (63%) were from Uzbekistan. Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan were in the top five as well.

According to IOM, the typical migrant in Kazakhstan is a man (83%) working in construction (49%). They are 33-38 years old, married, and providing for their family alone (47%). 40% have one to three dependents. Every third person (32%) wants to stay in Kazakhstan permanently.

Three-quarters found work in Kazakhstan through acquaintances, friends, or relatives. 29% have never worked anywhere in their home country. A third have only an incomplete secondary education, and another 29% have a secondary specialized education.

Every third person (34%) works in Kazakhstan without a written contract, i.e. illegally. The law obliges such workers to conclude employment contracts. Even those who work legally often note employers' dishonesty. Local employers regularly deceive them regarding wages, working conditions, and the length of the working day.

Employers do not pay pension contributions for 40% of migrant workers, and every fifth worker cannot access health care. 44% of migrants surveyed send more than half of their earnings home to help their families. 55% reported that they have difficulty paying rent. Other difficulties migrants face include being overworked, language barriers, and low wages. Only 11% of respondents said they faced no issues.

Most earn more than 250 thousand tenge per month in Kazakhstan. 35% earn significantly less - from 147 to 244 thousand tenge.

Among the reasons for moving to Kazakhstan, people most often noted higher income (39%), geographic accessibility (37%), and job vacancies (19%). 12% have relatives or family in Kazakhstan. Six percent left their countries over fear of criminal prosecution, and five percent - because of civil unrest and social problems in their homeland. Two percent indicated mobilization in Russia as an answer.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny