Round Table on “Current status and problems of migrants in Azerbaijan” held by Public Association for “Protection of Rights of Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Azerbaijan” together with “Association for Civil society Development in Azerbaijan” on 17 February, 2009
Social-economic growth observed in last years, the works done for the protection of human rights and freedoms, possibility of peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, intensification of integration process to Europe, the political stability in the country etc. caused increase of migrant flow into Azerbaijan. The Round Table held by Public Association for “Protection of Rights of Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Azerbaijan” together with “Association for Civil society Development in Azerbaijan” on 17 February, 2009 was devoted to the subject “Current status and problems of migrants in Azerbaijan”. Chairman of PA PRMIDPA, professor Nadir Abdullayev making an opening speech stated that according to the approximate calculations, 200 mln people out of the world population live as migrants outside their countries and about 1 mln of them are Azerbaijanis. So, one of every 35 people in the world and one of each 8 in Azerbaijan are migrants. Although 97-98% of the world-wide migrants are citizens of different countries, 70% of Azerbaijani migrants had to change their residence inside the country as a result of the Armenian aggression, i.e. they are the citizens of the Azerbaijan Republic.
After, expert of the Public Association, Dayanat Musayev made report.
Speaker stated that, according to the independent calculations, over 100 thousand migrants from different parts of the world live in Azerbaijan. But based on the official data, over 54 thousand migrants are registered in the Ministry of Internal Affairs; they have the right to live in Azerbaijan for more than a month. 3.786 of migrants are permanent residents, but 1.954 don’t have citizenship. The majority of migrants are from Georgia, the Middle Asia republics, Russia, as well as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, China, the Philippines and other countries.
The migrants coming to Azerbaijan can be devided into three groups based on a purpose of their arrival. The first group include those who came for work (labour migrants), the second group are those who came to get the refugee status and the third group are those who use the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic as a transit country. The majority of migrants coming to Azerbaijan are labour migrants.
D.Musayev stated that, according to the informal data, there are about 60 thousand labour migrants coming from abroad to Azerbaijan with about 6 thousand of them registered by state bodies. The major part of the migrants working in the country don’t have any registration and this considerably damages the republic’s budget. If 1,7 thousand migrants were given individual permission for labour activity by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population in 2007, this figure grew up to 6 thousand in 2008. 43% of foreigners, who got the permission, work in the oil sector, 33,5% – in the construction, 4,3% – in financial and insurance sphere, 7% – in industry and trade and 8,5% – in other spheres. The number of legally admitted foreigners grew 4 times as much. Expressing attitude to the growth of Chinese migrants in the country expert emphasized that, there are several reasons. So, according to the statement made by Chinese labor officials, about 20 mln workers lost their workplaces because of economic crisis and were to live as migrants. According to governmental investigation, 1 worker out of 7 is unemployed because of global economic crisis. On the other hand, in majority countries quotas regarding labor migrants were defined, but it hasn’t been implemented in Azerbaijan yet. Russia reduced quotas implemented to migrants about 50% for 2009 year. As a result of reducing quotas in Russia, unemployed Chinese migrants came to search workplaces in Azerbaijan.
Deputy Head of migration policy department of the AR State Migration Service, Vahid Gahramanov made a speach. He stated that, 8574 people apealed to the State Migration Service. Living date of 1410 people was prolonged, 1359 were given temporary living permission, 32 people were given status of immigrant. Official of the State Migration Service stated that, 87 people appealed to them to get status of refugee and only one of them was given the status. The speaker stated that, hot line (561-87-54) is activating for complaints and proposals and e-mail adress began its activity.
Sector chief of Migration department of the AR Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Fuad Jabbarov, project official of the International Migration Organization, Sarkhan Aktoprak, representative of Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan, Mustafa Gur, leader of Chechens community in Azerbaijan, Ramzan Mollayev, official of Ombudsman body, Zaur Aliyev, Alovsat Aliyev, head to the Migration Centre in Azerbaijan, Kamal Ibrahim from “Vatan” Society of Ahiska Turks, leader of Afghan community in Azerbaijan, Hamza Imami made speech on the subject.
But in spite of speeches and reports, it was stated that there are definite shortcomings regarding migrants’ social security, prevention of illegal migration, their registration, acclimatization in the country, taxation for labour activity, struggle against smuggling, human traffic etc. It was underlined that in order to overcome all these shortcomings it is very important and urgent to settle migration movement in light of the corresponding commitments proceeding from in the international treaties.
Samir Sadayev,
Collaborate of PA PRMIDPA