Russia: Moscow Still a Magnet for Labor Migrants

Russian government data shows there were 9.9 million foreign nationals living in Russia as of July 8, the Rossii'skaia Gazeta newspaper reported on August 2.

Most newcomers arrived from former Soviet republics and fell into the category of labor migrants. Not surprisingly, the Moscow Region was the most popular destination for labor migrants. The largest overall share of foreigners (21.8 percent) came from Ukraine, while Uzbek citizens comprised 15.6 percent. Other shares of Central Asian nationals were as follows: Kazakhstan, 9.6 percent; Tajikistan, 7.6 percent; and Kyrgyzstan, 3.67 percent

More than 83.2 billion rubles (roughly $2.83 billion) were transferred abroad from Russia during the first four months of 2011, according to a July 11 report in Sankt-Peterburgskie Vedomosti. That figure represented 34 percent increase in remittances in comparison with the same period in 2010. Labor migrants from former Soviet republics were responsible for making the majority of money transfers.

On the receiving end of the cash flow, Kyrgyz National Bank statistics showed that in 2010 Kyrgyz labor migrants in Russia sent the equivalent of $1.6 billion back home, Nezavisimaia Gazeta reported on July 29. The amount of remittances increased between roughly 30 percent during the first half of 2011, compared with the same period the previous year.