Photo: TASS
Russia will take part in the professional training of labor migrants from Tajikistan within the country before their departure for work. In addition, several procedures — including medical examinations and fingerprinting — can now be completed in Tajikistan. These provisions are included in a new protocol amending the intergovernmental agreement on the organized recruitment of Tajik citizens for temporary employment in Russia.
The document amends the April 17, 2019 agreement that regulates the organized recruitment of Tajik workers for temporary employment in Russia. The stated goal of the changes is to “create effective incentives for the development of organized forms of labor migration” to ensure decent and safe working conditions for migrants and to meet Russia’s demand for qualified labor.
Russia’s Ministry of Education will take part in the process, helping to prepare migrants through Russian secondary and vocational training programs. Professional training may take place either in Russia or directly in Tajikistan. The Tajik side will organize preparatory courses, including Russian-language instruction, using teaching materials provided by authorized Russian state institutions.
The protocol expands the list of procedures that prospective labor migrants can complete before leaving Tajikistan. Russian Interior Ministry representatives based in the country will now be able to collect biometric data and take photographs of applicants. Medical examinations may also be conducted by Russian medical institutions or their branches in Tajikistan, though this will require the signing of a separate international agreement.
The document also clarifies the responsibilities of Tajik authorities. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan will check candidates for international or interstate wanted status and for unexpunged criminal records for offenses recognized as such under Russian law.
Authorized Russian organizations will be able to carry out organized recruitment directly in Tajikistan under agreements with the country’s Ministry of Labor, Migration, and Employment. The Unified Digital Platform “Work in Russia” is now officially designated as the main information system for job listings.
The amendments also strengthen mechanisms for protecting migrant workers’ rights. If an employer violates not only labor but also migration laws, workers will be able to file complaints with both the Russian Federal Service for Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The protocol was signed on October 9 during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Tajikistan. It will enter into force once both countries complete their domestic ratification procedures and notify each other through diplomatic channels.
