IOM Predicts Slim Pickings for Uzbek Migrants and Increase

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000343 SIPDIS SIPDIS G/TIP FOR MEGAN HALL, SCA FOR JESSICA MAZZONE ASTANA FOR ANTHONY BEAVER USOSCE FOR ELIZABETH KAUFMAN AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PASS TO AMCONSUL HYDERABAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-03-17 TAGS: PREL KTIP ELAB PHUM ECON KCRM PINR KCOR RS KZ UZ SUBJECT: IOM Predicts Slim Pickings for Uzbek Migrants and Increase in TIP Cases REF: A.) USOSCE DAILY DIGEST, MARCH 11, 2009 CLASSIFIED BY: Timothy P Buckley, Second Secretary; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Country Director Mahmoud Naderi told poloff on February 10 that he expects the going to get tougher for Uzbek labor migrants and that he foresees an increase in TIP cases as desperate would-be workers seek any opportunities as well-paying jobs in Kazakhstan and Russia dry up. While on February 25 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on February 25 issued a report indicating that macroeconomic indicators for Uzbekistan remain strong relative to other countries in the region, there may be an increase in the number of TIP cases involving Uzbek victims as tough times continue. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) In a meeting with poloff on February 10, Naderi told poloff that he expects that the negative impact from legions of under or unemployed migrant workers will be felt in earnest in late March and April, when the winter break is over and many workers will look forward to spring work abroad. Despite indications that times are tougher, many migrant workers do not fully comprehend how many jobs may have been lost in traditional destinations in Russia and Kazakhstan. Naderi predicts that large numbers of workers will still travel from Uzbekistan, as usual, in search of work yet may find slim pickings or much lower compensation than they became accustomed to. ¶3. (C) Naderi added that he believes criminal gangs will sense an opportunity and take advantage of migrant workers' plights to make attractive-sounding employment offers to lure them into vulnerable situations. "The workers will not want to return home with empty hands," he continued, "and will therefore take increased risks." Thus, Naderi believes greater numbers of Uzbek migrant workers will fall prey to trafficking schemes out of economic desperation. Kazakhstan and Russia are predominantly labor exploitation destinations, but the Kazakhstan-based Naderi said he already has discerned more prostitution on the streets of Almaty and cautioned that sex exploitation of Uzbeks abroad could also increase. ¶4. (SBU) According to the March 11 USOSCE Daily Digest, the Kazakh Ambassador to the OSCE in Vienna said Kazakhstan is seeing an outflow of temporary workers from Central Asia (presumably including Uzbekistan, the more populous and poorer country to its south),which contradicts the notion that Uzbek workers are still heading north in large numbers as in previous years. A March 10 article on the website Uznews.net reports that lines remain long heading north at the Uzbek-Kazakh border checkpoints, and while there may be a slowdown in Russia and Kazakhstan, the article noted that Uzbek workers believe the domestic situation is worse "and do not even think of trying to find jobs at home." A February 10 article on the independent website fergana.ru cited the Federal Migration Service of Russia as reporting that in January, 2009 there were double the number of foreign migrants in Russia compared to the same time last year. The article also noted that although workers exited Russia earlier at the end of 2008 than usual, in 2009 the arrival of workers began earlier than in the previous year. This could be an indication that foreign migrants are clamoring to line up work in anticipation of fewer positions and stiff competition in the spring. ¶5. (C) Kazakhstan also noted in the OSCE on March 11 that in April 2009 it would be "taking actions to clamp down on illegal migration." Naderi had also told poloff about such proposed plans at the February 10 meeting, and he commented that "if countries like Kazakhstan close their borders to migrants, it simply will not work." He opined that such policies "will just cause corruption" on the borders by empowering border guards and customs officials to deny entry to migrants who otherwise do not require a visa to enter Kazakhstan, which Naderi expects would promote widespread bribery. ¶6. (U) On February 25 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invited members of the diplomatic corps for a presentation by Rika Ishii of the Office of the Chief Economist of TASHKENT 00000343 002 OF 002 its Transition Report for 2008. Following an estimated 9.0 percent growth in GDP in Uzbekistan during 2008, the EBRD report projects 5.0 percent GDP growth in 2009, which is well ahead of the Central Asia average of 2.3 percent expected growth for 2009 (and Uzbekistan's performance was in turn better than the regional average of 4.9 percent in 2008). Kazakhstan, by comparison, which certainly had a much better economy to begin with, had 2.9 percent GDP growth in 2008 and EBRD is projecting just 0.5 percent in 2009. Uzbekistan's projected GDP growth in 2009 also is far rosier than the average of 0.1 percent for all of the "transition countries" included in the EBRD report. ¶7. (U) Ishii noted that Uzbekistan will be affected by the decrease in cotton prices, but this is the only commodity that will be adversely affected in 2009 according to the EBRD. Ishii added that Uzbekistan's exports will fall due to the economic slowdown in Russia, which accounts for 28 percent of Uzbek exports. EBRD data indicates remittances, which amount to seven percent of Uzbekistan's GDP, will also suffer. Nonetheless, Ishii concluded that "Uzbekistan is in a relatively good position to weather the impact" of the global economic crisis. Uzbekistan, due largely to its isolation, is also well-insulated from the negative impacts of international banking problems that have wreaked havoc elsewhere, which the government was quick to portray as the result of its wise economic policies. (Note: President Karimov even published a book this month entitled "The World Financial-Economic Crisis and Ways to Overcome it in the Uzbekistan Context," in which he boasts that "the Uzbek model of economic reform has proven its efficiency." However, Karimov also continues to publicly warn that even Uzbekistan will not be able to completely avoid negative consequences of the crisis. His Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Rustam Azimov, told visiting Asian Development Bank Vice President Xiaoyu Zhao on March 23 that the President insists on a package of "measures" designed to deal with negative policy implications of the economic crisis. End note.) Comment: -------------- ¶8. (C) Uzbekistan's macroeconomic indicators are relatively better than others in the region, as the new EBRD data demonstrates. Nevertheless, poverty remains endemic and a key question is whether the typical Uzbek worker can get through tough times. Uzbek migrants are likely not confident that the government will successfully create jobs at home or expand social services, and they will continue to vote with their feet and head anywhere -- but primarily north -- in search of economic opportunities, even if they are hearing that work may be scarce abroad, too. Fortunately, the Government of Uzbekistan has made progress in raising public awareness about trafficking in persons and prosecuting known domestic offenders, but continued tough economic times may still result in an increased number of TIP cases involving Uzbek victims. NORLAND