The key facts

  • The law was signed on October 21 and replaces the 1999 version
  • Labor migration is allowed only from the age of 18 — both for citizens of Tajikistan and for foreigners
  • Two methods of employment are established, along with the state's obligation to facilitate the return of the bodies of deceased migrants

New migration law

On October 21, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon signed the law reports Asia+, with Spot.uz writing with reference to the publication. The document provides for strengthened control over travel abroad.

Age threshold and protection of rights

The key innovation is a minimum age for labor migration established for the first time: 18 years. The restriction applies in both directions — both to citizens of Tajikistan leaving to earn money and to foreigners coming to work in Tajikistan. Departure is permitted only to countries where the protection of migrants' rights and lawful interests is ensured — on the basis of international agreements or bilateral treaties between Tajikistan and the host states in the field of labor migration.

Employment and state obligations

The law establishes two ways of finding employment: independently searching for a job or applying to specialized agencies and other organizations to take part in organized recruitment. When searching independently, the authorized state body is required to provide free information about vacancies, salaries, working conditions, employer requirements, as well as the rules and laws of the destination country. In addition, the state assumes the obligation to facilitate the return to Tajikistan of the bodies of migrants who died abroad; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies and consulates of the republic are responsible for this.

Context of bilateral relations

For Uzbekistan, the new provision has practical significance: Tajikistan is a significant destination for labor migration in the region, and now the departure of Tajik citizens to earn money, including to neighboring countries, is formally allowed only from the age of 18 and only to states with treaty-based guarantees of migrant protection. Spot previously wrotethat President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for accelerating the transition to crossing the border with Tajikistan using ID cards — that is, the migration agenda of the two countries is developing in several directions at once: simplifying border crossings for legitimate travel and, on the part of Dushanbe, tightening the framework of labor migration.