Migrants who have returned to their home country are promised assistance with finding employment and setting up a business

Kyrgyzstan has begun the practical implementation of the state programme for the reintegration of citizens returning from labour migration. The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration hosted the first meeting of the Interdepartmental Working Group, which will be responsible for implementing the action plan for 2026–2030.

The programme was approved by a Cabinet of Ministers decree in May this year and forms part of the implementation of Kyrgyzstan’s National Development Programme up to 2030. In addition to the programme itself, the government has approved an action plan, a monitoring and evaluation system, and a separate budget for its implementation.

The need for such measures stems from changes in migration patterns. According to the programme, the 2022 census revealed that 858,000 labour migrants were living outside Kyrgyzstan. At the same time, over the past three years, the number of Kyrgyz nationals registered as migrants in Russia has more than halved – from around 800,000 people in 2022 to 341,100 by the end of 2025. At the same time, the republic has recorded a positive net migration balance for the third year running, indicating an increase in the number of returning citizens.

The authorities expect that the return of migrants will not become a social problem, but rather an additional source of economic development. To this end, the programme provides for a range of support measures: preferential loans and grants for setting up one’s own business, assistance with finding employment, vocational retraining, recognition of qualifications obtained abroad, psychological support to help with adaptation, as well as the creation of information services and advisory platforms for returning citizens.

Particular emphasis is placed on utilising migrants’ experience and capital within the country. The document notes that many returning citizens possess professional skills that are in high demand and are ready to invest the money they have earned abroad in setting up businesses and creating new jobs. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan is already experiencing a labour shortage, particularly in the construction and textile sectors, where employers are forced to recruit foreign workers.

During the working group’s first meeting, representatives from government bodies, international organisations, development partners and the non-governmental sector discussed mechanisms for implementing the programme and expanding cooperation. The Ministry of Labour emphasised that the programme’s success will depend on coordinated efforts between government bodies, local authorities, international partners and civil society organisations.