DUSHANBE, January 7, Asia-Plus / / -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a federal law on ratifying the agreement between the governments of Russia and Tajikistan on labor activity of Russian nationals in Tajikistan and Tajik nationals in Russia, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The lower and upper houses of the Russian parliament approved the document, respectively, on December 23, 2005 and December 27, 2005 .

The federal law envisions ratification of the bilateral accord in question, which was signed on in Dushanbe on October 16, 2004 .  It regulates issues of labor activity and the protection of rights of the Russians temporarily living and working in Tajikistan and the Tajiks temporarily living and working in Russia .  The document also aims to promote legal labor migration and to avert the illegal use of labor force from either country.

When Asia-Plus has applied for comments to officials with the Tajik MFA, they said that the Tajik MFA has not yet received a note about signing of this document.  “It is very long procedure: Russian MFA should send the note to the Russian Embassy in Dushanbe and they will send it to the Tajik MFA.” 

Some local experts hold that this document “will allow improving fate of Tajik migrants officially leaving for Russia in search of better employment opportunities and protecting their rights in the Russian Federation .”