The labor market

One of the priorities of the social policy of the leadership of the state and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan is the regulation of the labor market, the migration process, the expansion of effective employment, vocational training of the population, and the adoption of measures to provide suitable jobs for the able-bodied population.

On December 23, 2022, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dear Emomali Rahmon, in his Message to the Supreme Chamber of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, instructed the relevant institutions that by 2026, using all opportunities, citizens over the age of 18 who do not have any professions and crafts, should be involved in vocational training, as well as professionalization of the entire population.

The high-quality and timely fulfillment of this task by the Leader of the Nation requires from the relevant structures double responsibility, high professionalism and unwavering dedication to this land and its people.

In a previous message to the Supreme Chamber of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon instructed that "in order to help solve employment problems, it is necessary to develop a concept of effective employment in the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2040, as well as medium-term programs should be adopted and implemented."

It should be noted that on May 28, 2022, a Decree of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan "On the Concept of effective employment development in the Republic of Tajikistan until 2040" was adopted. This concept consists of five key areas of state policy in the field of employment and social protection: expansion of the sphere of effective employment; knowledge and skills, technologies and opportunities for effective employment; business development and creation of productive jobs; institutions and programs of the labor market and social partnership.

It is worth noting that over the past few years, along with the measures taken by the Government of the country to ensure permanent employment of the population, as well as from entrepreneurs and other noble people, a significant contribution has been made to the creation of manufacturing enterprises and thereby new jobs have been created for residents of remote regions of the country.

As the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, dear Emomali Rahmon, emphasized in his next message: "... over the past five years, 1,382 factories and industrial enterprises have been built and put into operation with the creation of 15,000 new jobs.

In general, if in 1991 there were only 358 industrial enterprises with 33 thousand jobs in the country, then at the time of independence 2,500 manufacturing enterprises were built, and in 2022 — 2,800 industrial enterprises with 85 thousand jobs.

In 2022 alone, more than 500 factories and manufacturing enterprises with 6,000 new jobs were launched, which contributed to an increase in industrial production to 43 billion somoni in 2022.

According to official statistics, the number of workers in Tajikistan, taking into account the employed population and officially registered unemployed, according to preliminary estimates for February of this year, is 2 million 568.8 thousand people, of which 2 million 517.6 thousand people or 98.0% work in the economy, 51.2 thousand people, which is 2.0% of the workforce are officially unemployed.

In February 2023, 1 million 237.1 thousand people were registered at enterprises of all forms of ownership, or 49.1 percent of the total employed population. The number of employees in February 2023 increased by 0.6 percent compared to January 2023 and by 0.9 percent compared to February 2022. The number of employees by type of economic activity in the real sector in February 2023 increased by 1.1% compared to February 2022, to 690.0 thousand. the number of people, and by type of economic activity in the service sector increased by 0.7%, which is 547.1 thousand people.

In organizations and institutions of the republic, except for official (state) employees, labor is used in conditions of combining two jobs and on the basis of contracts (contracts) of a civil nature. In February 2023, 44.3 thousand people worked in these conditions, which is 3.6% of the number of jobs occupied.

The number of vacancies submitted by enterprises to the Labor and Employment Agency increased by 44.4 percent at the end of February 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, which amounted to 18.8 thousand jobs, increased by 48.7% in labor professions, and amounted to 7.5 thousand jobs (39.7% of vacancies). Compared to January 2023, the number of job applications submitted increased by 7.1 percent. The workload for one declared vacancy was 4.2 people (in February 2022 – 6.1 people).

Tajikistan's economy is developing day by day and gradually, new jobs are being created in various industries. Of course, with the creation of new jobs, citizens have the opportunity to find employment, improve the level and quality of their lives. Therefore, in the conditions of Tajikistan, providing the population with productive employment is recognized as a strategic task of the state. The Message mentions the need to adopt sectoral and regional employment programs and medium-term employment development programs that can create a favorable basis for a more comprehensive and effective implementation of this strategic goal.

Employment of the population

For 9 months of 2023, the number of economically active population of the Republic of Tajikistan, according to preliminary estimates, amounted to 2 million 651 thousand people, of which 2 million 602 thousand or 98.1% are employed in various sectors of the economy. During this period, 107,900 citizens applied to the labor and employment authorities, of which 82,302 were registered as job seekers, where 45,561 of them officially received the status of unemployed.

During this period, the labor and employment authorities provided social services to 167 thousand 787 citizens. Of the 58 thousand 274 employed citizens, 7 thousand 05 were employed through quota jobs, 2 thousand 069 were employed through small preferential loans, 5 thousand 396 were directed to public works, 9 thousand 301 citizens were employed through organizations, fairs, job vacancies.

At the same time, 6 thousand 388 graduates of vocational training courses, as well as 33 thousand 511 people with directions from labor and employment agencies, were provided with jobs through vacant jobs. Local labor and employment authorities held 832 job fairs, which were attended by 10 thousand 285 enterprises and institutions of various fields. Through the fairs, 9 thousand 301 citizens were employed, 7 thousand 720 received referrals for vocational training and 1737 people were sent to paid community service.

In order to organize business activities, 2 thousand 69 unemployed citizens were given loans in the amount of 7 million 788 thousand 265 somoni. Of these, loans in the amount of 3 million 730 thousand 579 somoni were issued to 909 citizens to carry out production activities, loans in the amount of 2 million 632 thousand 434 somoni were issued to 641 citizens for entrepreneurial activities and loans in the amount of 1 million 425 thousand 252 somoni were issued to 519 citizens for activities in the field of social services. To support the entrepreneurial initiative, loans in the amount of 2 million 928 thousand 388 somoni were allocated for 1,183 women. As well as preferential loans in the amount of 569 thousand 044 somoni have been allocated for 4921 citizens for the development of folk crafts.

As a result of the organization of promotional measures by the labor and employment authorities, during 9 months of 2023, 4446 unemployed citizens were given directions for employment in construction companies of JSC NBO Rogun, where 3584 of them were employed, 1530 people passed a sociological survey and 1900 citizens received orientation services.

Including 321 citizens from GBAO, 1913 citizens from Khatlon region, 233 citizens from Sughd region, 480 citizens from Dushanbe city and 637 citizens from cities and districts of republican subordination were employed in construction companies of JSC NBO Rogun with a salary from 1,500 to 4,500 somoni.

Migration of the population

In order to improve and develop the legislative system in the field of population migration and create a legal and organizational framework in 2023, a draft “On the strategy for regulating migration processes in the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2040” was developed and approved by Decree of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan No. 309 dated June 30, 2023, which is currently under implementation.

It should be noted that cooperation with the Russian Federation in the direction of regulating labor migration issues has been established at the necessary level and is constantly discussed at meetings of the intergovernmental commission on economic issues and meetings of working groups. In particular, in 2023, six meetings of working groups on the implementation of intergovernmental agreements in the field of labor migration in the VKS format and three meetings were held (August 15 in Moscow, October 4 and November 23 in Dushanbe in the format of personal presence).

As a result of the negotiations, the following were achieved:

The Scheme (client path) was approved, which showed the process of employment of citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation;
the issue of passing the unified comprehensive exam on knowledge of the Russian language, history and legislation of Russia in Tajikistan has been resolved;
A roadmap for expanding international cooperation with the Republic of Tajikistan on the development of primary and secondary, vocational education and training has been signed. The implementation of this document is envisaged from 2024;
A Memorandum of Understanding and cooperation on labor inspection and employment promotion was signed between the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Federal Service for Labor and Employment of the Russian Federation and cooperation was established to ensure the protection of labor rights of citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan engaged in labor activities in Russia.

The Tajik side has completed the domestic coordination of the draft Protocol on Amendments and Additions to the Agreements between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Russian Federation on the organized recruitment of citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan for temporary employment in the territory of the Russian Federation dated April 17, 2019, in terms of creating an appropriate legal framework for the possibility of medical examination, as well as obtaining fingerprint information and photographing citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan on the territory of Tajikistan, ensuring the possibility of obtaining primary and secondary vocational education according to the programs of the Russian Federation, etc.

It should be noted that on February 7, 2023, the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the State of Qatar on the regulation of labor in Qatar from February 3, 2019 with the participation of the Ministers of Labor of both countries was held in Dushanbe and the relevant protocol was adopted. As part of the cooperation, on May 15, 2023, a cooperation agreement was signed between the state institution “Agency for Employment Abroad” of the Ministry and the Qatari company “Qatar Labor Recruitment". Based on the Concept of attracting foreign compatriots as partners in the development of the country, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated May 29, 2010, No. 277 and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Concept for 2021-2025 (MTPP dated June 1, 2021, No. 213) The Ministry has established strong and fruitful ties with public organizations, cultural centers and Tajik diasporas that officially operate abroad.

In connection with the implementation of paragraph 1 of the “Action Plan for the implementation of the Concept of attracting foreign compatriots as partners in the development of the country for 2021-2025”, on September 13, 2023, the Ministry held a meeting of the Coordinating Council for Cooperation with Tajik Diasporas (Tajik Society) and Compatriots Abroad under the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Republic of Tajikistan with the participation of members of the relevant ministries and departments of the Republic, heads of diasporas and compatriots abroad. In addition, in order to implement paragraph 2 of the above-mentioned action plan, an Internet portal was developed and officially launched for constant communication and the formation of an information and analytical base on Tajik diasporas, compatriots and Tajiks abroad.

In 2023, the Ministry made efforts to include the Republic of Tajikistan in the Employment Permit System (EPS) of the Republic of Korea. The necessary documents were drawn up at the request submitted by the Korean side, after consideration, Korean experts visited the Republic of Tajikistan twice and got acquainted with the activities of relevant institutions and structures in order to study the migration system of Tajikistan and obtain specific answers to the questions raised.

As a result, on December 29, 2023, at a meeting of the Committee on Foreign Policy of the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Tajikistan was included in the work permit system (EPS) in Korea as the 17th country, which is an achievement of the year in terms of diversification of labor migration. The transfer of labor resources from the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Korea will be carried out from 2025 after the signing of a Memorandum on the system of intergovernmental employment permits and the opening of a local EPS center. In 2023, 34,504 citizens applied to the office of the Migration Service of the Ministry and its structures in the regions, of which 33,505 applied orally, 83 in writing, and 916 by helpline.

In order to provide work for migrant workers abroad, currently 46 business entities in the republic have a license from the Migration Service of the Ministry and are engaged in exporting labor outside the country. Of the total number of labor exporting entities, 28 business entities were able to send 12,297 labor migrants outside the country in an organized manner during the reporting period and provide them with jobs, which is an increase of 8,461 people compared to 2022. It should be noted that in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan “On establishing a quota for foreign migration and attracting foreign labor to the Republic of Tajikistan”, a quota of 7,500 foreign citizens for 2023 was developed and approved.

Of the total number of immigrants traveling abroad, 627028 people are in the Russian Federation, 18418 - in the Republic of Kazakhstan and 6568 - in other states. The return of migrant workers during this period amounted to 590,710 (2022 -551,778) or 7% more, of which the number of men increased by 468,458 people, or 4.2%, and women - by 122252 people, or 19.1%. During the reporting period, 303 families of internal migrants were provided with household plots for the construction of residential buildings and 1 million 515.0 thousand. According to Somoni, the preferential loan was transferred to payment through the structures of the State Unitary Enterprise “Amonatbonk” in cities and districts receiving migrants and the implementation of this plan was fully ensured. Also during this period, a land plot was allocated for the construction of residential buildings for 225 farms of environmental migrants.

Where to look for jobs in Tajikistan?

You can find a large number of vacancies on the Internet. For example, the most popular job search sites in Tajikistan are Somon.tj, Rg.tj, Tajikistan.hh.ru, where there are current vacancies in various areas.

You will also be helped by such social networks as Facebook (groups Ngo.tj, Вакансия.tj), LinkedIn, where you can find international vacancies; tajikistan.un.org, where vacancies and access to international NGOs and organizations are available; tendertj.com is a platform for searching and posting tenders, where there are also advertisements for available vacancies and the Telegram channel @tajwork, an online labor market.

It is recommended that you first look for a job on the website of the company that interests you. Many companies publish vacancies on their social media pages.

What should a job seeker pay attention to when looking for a job?

Pay attention to the education and work experience you have already received and find common ground with the new vacancy. Study the employer brand, how they position themselves in social networks and the media. Ask yourself if you have the desire to grow and develop in this direction.

One important note - approach each vacancy individually! Do not try to send the same package of documents to dozens of companies at once with generalized information about yourself.

Better spend your time and tailor your motivation letter and resume to a specific position.

When visiting job search sites, look at the proper design of the advertisement, try to weed out dubious and illiterate ones.

Save the job postings you select in a separate folder and record the companies you applied to.

Having found a vacancy that suits you and sent your resume, try to contact the HR manager to clarify the deadline.

Letters of recommendation from past jobs are very important, especially if a new employer requests them.

If you had a bad recommendation, take care of it in advance, thereby minimizing the risk to the HR manager. As for certificates, they will be a plus and will show your desire for new knowledge.