Wives Struggle as Tajik Labour Migrants Leave Troubles Behind
Wives Struggle as Tajik Labour Migrants Leave Troubles Behind
The mass exodus of mainly male workers from Tajikistan brings the country large sums in remittances – the money they send home – but also a host of social problems.
A wife generally goes to live with her husband’s family, so if his temporary absence begins to look permanent, he tells her he wants a separation over the phone from Russia, or she just does not get on with her in-laws, she will often have few resources to fall back on to sustain herself and any children.
In turn, the children are likely to suffer worse health than the average, and may stop going to school. In some cases, the mothers hand over their children to the state homes intended mainly for orphans.
Shahodat Saibnazarova is IWPR radio editor in Tajikistan.
The audio programme, in Tajik and Russian, went out on national radio stations in Tajikistan, as part of IWPR project work funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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