Russia remains the main destination for migrant workers from Uzbekistan

1 hour ago

More than half of Uzbekistan's citizens working abroad are in Russia. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the country the largest labor market for migrants from Central Asia.

Russia still remains the main destination for migrant workers from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. This was stated by Alexander Sternik, Director of the Third CIS Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Despite the decrease in the number of migrant workers from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, Russia remains the main destination for them due to geographical proximity and a common language space," he said.

According to him, the main reasons remain geographical proximity, as well as common linguistic and cultural ties.

As for Uzbekistan, Elyor Toshtemirov, Deputy Director of the Migration Agency, previously reported that about 1.1–1.2 million citizens of the country are working abroad. More than half of them work specifically in Russia.

Tajikistan is also actively sending migrant workers to Russia. According to the Minister of Labor and Migration of Tajikistan, Solekha Kholmukhammadzoda, in 2025, more than 30,000 Tajik citizens came to work in the country under the organized recruitment program — 12,000 people more than the previous year.

Earlier, the Agency announced that Uzbeks who find themselves in a difficult life situation in Russia and are unable to return home on their own can receive assistance with returning to their homeland, including compensation for transport expenses.