DUSHANBE, October 8, 2011, Asia-Plus – The party of labor migrants of Tajikistan may become the most popular political party in Tajikistan.

Karomat Sharipov, head of the All-Russian movement, Tajik Labor Migrants, which according to him a social movement representing rights of Tajik migrant workers in Russia, remarked this in an interview with the Russian News Service (RNS).

According to him, Tajikistan needs the party of labor migrants that “even will be more popular than the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRP).”  He believes that that party would be able to win 90 percent of seats in Tajik parliament.

Sharipov noted that such a party must function only in Tajikistan.  “Migrants must protect their rights in their own state, while in Russia they are guests; they arrive here to earn their livelihood,” he noted.

Earlier it was noted that the IRP may become legalized together with Tajik labor migrants arriving in Russia.  The IRP leader Muhiddin Kabiri noted that his party has already gone beyond borders of Tajikistan, strengthening its influence among migrants, primarily in Russia.

According to various data, an estimated 1.5 million Tajik seasonal workers travel abroad each year, primarily to Russia, seeking better employment opportunities.  Labor migrants are a critical component in Tajikistan’s economy and their remittances keep many struggling families at home above the poverty line, and help to alleviate the stress caused by a lack of domestic job opportunities.  Every year, labor migrants reportedly remit some 2 billion U.S. dollars to Tajikistan.