Migration Processes in the Western Regions of Kazakhstan: Potential Government Measures to Mitigate Negative Consequences of the Current Economic Crisis

Abstract

The migration situation in Kazakhstan is one of the most complex ones in the World. The current oil price plunge, which started in mid-2014, has seriously affected the oil-dependent Kazakh economy as well as the social sphere in general and the migration situation in particular. This article starts with a general overview of the migration situation in the country, studies the correlation between changes in real GDP and balance of migration and then addresses the migration processes in the Western oil-producing regions of the country. The paper specifically addresses these regions because they are more attractive, as half of all foreign labor force officially working in the country is employed hereas well as most of the illegal and in-country migrants. Also
we should not omit one very important factor – in the oil producing regions of the country the relations between the local population and labor migrants are traditionally strained. Over the last 30 years there were many cases of social unrests and clashes between Kazakh and foreign workers. These facts show how important this problem is and that neglecting it by businesses, government entities and the local population can provoke further social problems. The article analyzes potential consequences of the current oil plunge on migration dynamics and recommends actions to be taken by government entities to mitigate the resulting negative consequences.