Labor Migration and Its Impact on Families in Kyrgyzstan: a Qualitative Study
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Labor Migration and Its Impact on Families in Kyrgyzstan: a Qualitative Study Filomena M. Critelli 1 & Laura A. Lewis 1 & Asli Cennet Yalim 2 & Jibek Ibraeva 3 # Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract Labor migration has surged in the former Soviet countries such as Kyrgyzstan because of multiple crises that the country faced since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Migration has produced broad impacts on most aspects of life in Kyrgyzstan and is transforming family life in myriad ways. Based on in-depth interviews with members of migrating families, this study explores the impact of labor migration on families from Kyrgyzstan and identifies issues that arise at the intersection of migration and family life. The experiences of migrants and their family members were examined (N = 20). The results revealed that decisions of who would migrate were made jointly among extended families and were driven by economic needs. Migration incurred number of trade-offs and challenges for families, especially separation of family members and additional responsibilities placed on those who remain at home. The study contributes to our understanding of the family level consequences of labor migration, providing a nuanced picture of the benefits and compromises for families. Keywords Labor migration . Transnational families . Kyrgyzstan . Familyhood
* Filomena M. Critelli [email protected] Laura A. Lewis [email protected] Asli Cennet Yalim [email protected] Jibek Ibraeva [email protected]
1
University at Buffalo School of Social Work, 685 Baldy Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
2
College of Health Professions & Sciences (CHPS), University of Central Florida School of Social Work, HPA I Room 240, Orlando, FL 32816-3358, USA
3
Bishkek Humanities University, Chingiz Aitmatov Avenue, 27, 720044 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Critelli F.M. et al.
Introduction Labor migration, which involves crossing national borders to seek employment, is one of the key motivations behind international migration and is driven by the impact of economic, political, and environmental crises (Migration Data Portal 2019). In 2017, migrant workers accounted for about 59% of the world’s international migrant population (International Labour Organization 2018). Labor migration has surged in the former Soviet countries such as Kyrgyzstan because of multiple crises that the country faced since the collapse of the Soviet Union including unemployment, lack of economic opportunities, and a loss of social safety nets within their nations’ transitioning economies (Ryazantsev 2016). Since then, the former Soviet region has become one of the world’s largest migration corridors with much of the flow departing from Central Asia to Russia. Migration has produced broad impacts on most aspects of life in migrants’ origin countries such as Kyrgyzstan and is transforming family life in myriad ways. Because of barriers such as migration policies and financial constraints that limit the ability for families to migrate together as a unit, there has been a rise in transnational families
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