oa What are the characteristics, behaviors and problems for families and children? Case stories: Central Asia

Migrant workers bring an enormous contribution to the development of the Central Asia (CA) region by providing skills that fill labour market needs in countries of destination, and by providing remittances, return of talent and enhanced commercial activity in their countries of origin, i.e., Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan.

International labour mobility has become increasingly important in CA over the past two decades. The collapse of the Soviet Union and centralized employment system has entailed considerable changes in labour markets and growth of internal and external labour migration. The regional migration has affected all population strata, all age categories, men and women, various occupations and social groups in CA. Migration has strengthened economic linkages between actors in the regions as well as increased the development of speed gaps between various countries.

According to the Central Asia Human Development Report (UNDP), just within the period from early 1989 to early 2002, nearly 3 million people, or over 20% of the population, migrated from Kazakhstan; 694,000 people (11% of the population) from Tajikistan; over 1 million people (4%) from Uzbekistan, and 360,000 people (7%) from Kyrgyzstan.