08.05.2025 17:21
60
Billions sent by migrant women - benefit or harm for Uzbekistan?!
In recent years, the number of Uzbek women working abroad for a living has been increasing. In particular, in 2024, Uzbek women sent a total of 3 billion US dollars home. Uzbek women earn these funds mainly by cleaning houses, caring for children or the elderly, washing dishes, and cleaning. The contribution of migrant women to the economy of their countries is more than the amount of money Uzbekistan earns by exporting textile products to 65 countries.
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Migration has long been a natural process, with humans moving to places with better water and food to live.
As times have changed, migration has also taken on new forms. People's migration to fertile land to feed their families has not only become a way of life, but also a way of going abroad to work for purposes such as housing, weddings, and contract payments. And the most changed form of migration in the last decade has been women's labor.
"Previously, men from Uzbekistan would go abroad to work. In recent years, the number of women has increased significantly. Due to the economic, social situation and unemployment in Uzbekistan, women are forced to go abroad to work," says lawyer and migration expert Botirjon Shermuhammad.
We made calculations based on official data.
According to him, the number of Uzbek women working abroad is approximately 268,000.
They sent a total of about $4 billion to Uzbekistan in 2024. About 300,000 Uzbek women sent an average of more than $11,000 each per year. That's an average of $933 per woman per month.
How do Uzbek women in exile earn this money?
This was told by Shahodat, who has been working in Moscow for almost 15 years.
- It's hard for a woman to earn a living in Russia. Speaking from my own experience, I work 14 hours a day from 8 in the morning to 11 at night, without breaks. I'm losing my health, my veins are protruding from working on my feet. I'm a cook. I'm in the kitchen all day, between four walls, without windows and fresh air. When I go outside, into the light, tears start to flow from my eyes. My body has weakened. It wasn't easy to adapt to these working hours and conditions, - says Shahodat.
Women make up 48 percent of migrants worldwide, 42 percent of whom are female migrant workers.
Uzbek women are joining the ranks of women from India, China, Mexico, Africa, and the Philippines as international migrant workers. And the majority of these migrant workers are Muslim women. Uzbek women, most of whom are in Russia, speak out about the injustices they face and the violations of their rights.
"For example, when we start working, we sign an employment contract. They introduced us to the work schedule. We agreed to it and started working. It so happened that I was pregnant. Because I worked so hard, I miscarried during work. My condition was serious, but I couldn't leave my workplace. When I left, there was no one in the kitchen, I worked alone. The managers also saw my condition, and when I said I wanted to leave, they wouldn't let me," says the migrant woman.
Turkey is ranked as the country where the largest number of Uzbek women emigrate.
Migrants in Turkey sent $331 million to Uzbekistan between January and October.
"The number of Uzbeks going to Turkey to work has increased due to the many opportunities for women in the country. In addition, the hard work and manners of Uzbek women seem to have appealed to the Turks, and the number of marriages has also increased," says lawyer Batirjon Shermuhammad.
What are the costs of Uzbek women in labor migration contributing to the Uzbek economy?
Shahodat, who works in Moscow, burst into tears while answering this question.
"I am the eldest child in the family. We gave my sisters away, we got my brother married. I contributed to their weddings, but I couldn't go myself. My mother was ill for 10 years, I reached her last days. But I was with her for only two weeks, she passed away. My daughter was 5 years old when I went to Moscow. We gave her away, and last year I had a grandchild. It's been more than 6 months, and I haven't seen my grandchild yet. I want to see her, but I can't, I have to work," laments Shahodat.
Without remittances from migrants, the poverty rate in Uzbekistan would be 16.8 percent, not 9.6 percent
The World Bank concluded this in a new study that includes an analysis of contemporary migration trends, challenges, and opportunities in the Europe and Central Asia region.
Migrant remittances account for 14 percent of Uzbekistan's GDP, of which women migrants account for 5 percent.
These seemingly small percentages have placed enormous burdens on women, who have to risk their lives to support their families.
"Our migrant women face various dangers while working abroad. Mainly, there are many cases of rape, exploitation of their naivety, recruitment, sexual assault, or exploitation and non-payment of wages," says Batirjon Shermuhammad.
What should be done to free Uzbek women from the burden imposed by the economic and social situation in the country?
What is the solution in Islam for Uzbek women, nearly 90 percent of whom are Muslim, to avoid working abroad and raising families?
We asked this question to religious scholar Mubashshir Ahmad.
- Scholars say that a Muslim woman is obligated to provide for her mahrams from birth until death, and she is not obligated to work or exert herself in any way.
For example, from the time a girl is born until she reaches adulthood, her father is responsible for her maintenance. If the father dies during this period, her brother is responsible. If there is no brother or he has also died, other relatives are responsible for her maintenance.
"After a girl reaches adulthood and gets married, her husband is obligated to provide her with maintenance. If her husband dies at an old age, his maintenance is obligated to his sons. That is, at every stage of her life, a woman is not obliged to go through any hardships or hardships in order to provide for her," says religious scholar Mubashshir Ahmad.
What about Uzbek women in exile? Under what conditions would they not go abroad to work?
Shahodat answered this question: "When job opportunities and monthly salaries in Uzbekistan exceed the subsistence level and are sufficient to live like a human being."
What can be done to at least reduce the number of Uzbek women going abroad to work for a living? Migration lawyer Botirjon Shermuhammad has proposed several solutions in this regard.
"First of all, the quality of education needs to be improved," says the lawyer. "At the same time, it is necessary to expand vocational training and job opportunities."
One of the most painful problems of Uzbek society is female migration. How does the process of Uzbek women going into labor migration continue? And how long will this process last?
Will it be possible in the near future to put an end to the migration of Muslim women from country to country to earn money?
Owner Life
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Migration has long been a natural process, with humans moving to places with better water and food to live.
As times have changed, migration has also taken on new forms. People's migration to fertile land to feed their families has not only become a way of life, but also a way of going abroad to work for purposes such as housing, weddings, and contract payments. And the most changed form of migration in the last decade has been women's labor.
"Previously, men from Uzbekistan would go abroad to work. In recent years, the number of women has increased significantly. Due to the economic, social situation and unemployment in Uzbekistan, women are forced to go abroad to work," says lawyer and migration expert Botirjon Shermuhammad.
We made calculations based on official data.
According to him, the number of Uzbek women working abroad is approximately 268,000.
They sent a total of about $4 billion to Uzbekistan in 2024. About 300,000 Uzbek women sent an average of more than $11,000 each per year. That's an average of $933 per woman per month.
How do Uzbek women in exile earn this money?
This was told by Shahodat, who has been working in Moscow for almost 15 years.
- It's hard for a woman to earn a living in Russia. Speaking from my own experience, I work 14 hours a day from 8 in the morning to 11 at night, without breaks. I'm losing my health, my veins are protruding from working on my feet. I'm a cook. I'm in the kitchen all day, between four walls, without windows and fresh air. When I go outside, into the light, tears start to flow from my eyes. My body has weakened. It wasn't easy to adapt to these working hours and conditions, - says Shahodat.
Women make up 48 percent of migrants worldwide, 42 percent of whom are female migrant workers.
Uzbek women are joining the ranks of women from India, China, Mexico, Africa, and the Philippines as international migrant workers. And the majority of these migrant workers are Muslim women. Uzbek women, most of whom are in Russia, speak out about the injustices they face and the violations of their rights.
"For example, when we start working, we sign an employment contract. They introduced us to the work schedule. We agreed to it and started working. It so happened that I was pregnant. Because I worked so hard, I miscarried during work. My condition was serious, but I couldn't leave my workplace. When I left, there was no one in the kitchen, I worked alone. The managers also saw my condition, and when I said I wanted to leave, they wouldn't let me," says the migrant woman.
Turkey is ranked as the country where the largest number of Uzbek women emigrate.
Migrants in Turkey sent $331 million to Uzbekistan between January and October.
"The number of Uzbeks going to Turkey to work has increased due to the many opportunities for women in the country. In addition, the hard work and manners of Uzbek women seem to have appealed to the Turks, and the number of marriages has also increased," says lawyer Batirjon Shermuhammad.
What are the costs of Uzbek women in labor migration contributing to the Uzbek economy?
Shahodat, who works in Moscow, burst into tears while answering this question.
"I am the eldest child in the family. We gave my sisters away, we got my brother married. I contributed to their weddings, but I couldn't go myself. My mother was ill for 10 years, I reached her last days. But I was with her for only two weeks, she passed away. My daughter was 5 years old when I went to Moscow. We gave her away, and last year I had a grandchild. It's been more than 6 months, and I haven't seen my grandchild yet. I want to see her, but I can't, I have to work," laments Shahodat.
Without remittances from migrants, the poverty rate in Uzbekistan would be 16.8 percent, not 9.6 percent
The World Bank concluded this in a new study that includes an analysis of contemporary migration trends, challenges, and opportunities in the Europe and Central Asia region.
Migrant remittances account for 14 percent of Uzbekistan's GDP, of which women migrants account for 5 percent.
These seemingly small percentages have placed enormous burdens on women, who have to risk their lives to support their families.
"Our migrant women face various dangers while working abroad. Mainly, there are many cases of rape, exploitation of their naivety, recruitment, sexual assault, or exploitation and non-payment of wages," says Batirjon Shermuhammad.
What should be done to free Uzbek women from the burden imposed by the economic and social situation in the country?
What is the solution in Islam for Uzbek women, nearly 90 percent of whom are Muslim, to avoid working abroad and raising families?
We asked this question to religious scholar Mubashshir Ahmad.
- Scholars say that a Muslim woman is obligated to provide for her mahrams from birth until death, and she is not obligated to work or exert herself in any way.
For example, from the time a girl is born until she reaches adulthood, her father is responsible for her maintenance. If the father dies during this period, her brother is responsible. If there is no brother or he has also died, other relatives are responsible for her maintenance.
"After a girl reaches adulthood and gets married, her husband is obligated to provide her with maintenance. If her husband dies at an old age, his maintenance is obligated to his sons. That is, at every stage of her life, a woman is not obliged to go through any hardships or hardships in order to provide for her," says religious scholar Mubashshir Ahmad.
What about Uzbek women in exile? Under what conditions would they not go abroad to work?
Shahodat answered this question: "When job opportunities and monthly salaries in Uzbekistan exceed the subsistence level and are sufficient to live like a human being."
What can be done to at least reduce the number of Uzbek women going abroad to work for a living? Migration lawyer Botirjon Shermuhammad has proposed several solutions in this regard.
"First of all, the quality of education needs to be improved," says the lawyer. "At the same time, it is necessary to expand vocational training and job opportunities."
One of the most painful problems of Uzbek society is female migration. How does the process of Uzbek women going into labor migration continue? And how long will this process last?
Will it be possible in the near future to put an end to the migration of Muslim women from country to country to earn money?
Owner Life