Legal, Socio-Economic and Cultural Characteristics of Labor Immigration in Georgia

Abstract

Emigration to Georgia has stabilized recently, and immigration flows have intensified. In 2012, the number of immigrants exceeded 69,000. In 2019, their number was equal to 96,864. Although the Covid pandemic and closed borders, as well as restrictions on international traffic, have left their mark on migration processes and the number of immigrants has been declining since 2020, their number remains significant. It stands at 74,008 as of 2021 (Geostat, 2021). Among immigrants, the number of labor migrants is remarkable, the growth of which has posed a new challenge to the country. It became necessary to create a legal framework and regulations for labor migration. Most labor migrants are employed in Tbilisi and Batumi. That is why these cities were selected for the study. The paper will present the results of qualitative research, in particular, an analysis of in-depth interviews with labor migrants of different nationalities, legal statuses, and employment in different economic sectors. The study was conducted based on a pre-prepared structured questionnaire for the summer-autumn period of 2021. In total, 56 individual, face-to-face interviews were conducted in both cities (Tbilisi, Batumi). The respondents' civic, legal, and economic diversity better illustrates the difference in the degree of integration. Interviews were conducted in English, Russian, Turkish and Georgian. An in-depth interview helped us to understand the motives of the migrants and to get to know their views on the integration process. The duration of the interviews varied and averaged 30-60 minutes. Since there is no unified database of labor migrants, one of the well-known methods of random sampling, the so-called "snowball" method, was used. Based on the specifics of the research, the selection of foreign citizens living in Georgia was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, the so-called Targeted sampling method was used, and then, in the following - second stage, the research was continued using the "snowball" method. This method is the best way to connect with migrant groups and reveals their social networks. Migrants often avoid surveys and interviews because of their illegal status or security issues. Consequently, this method increases the degree of trust of the migrant since one of the respondents connects us with the next one. Despite the issue's urgency, scientific research on labor immigration has not yet been conducted. The research aims to comprehensively analyze and assess the legal, socio-economic, and cultural characteristics of labor immigration in Georgia. 13 In-depth interviews were conducted with targeted migration specialists, including interviews with migration policy personnel. Some of them, the heads of various government agencies, were interviewed. The study revealed differences between cities and different groups of migrant workers. The study found that although the promotion of foreign integration is recognized in domestic legislation or international agreements, in many cases, no actual effective measures are taken to raise the standards of the integration process. The "State Integration Program for Foreigners Living in Georgia" does not meet the needs of migrants. As a result, foreigners face severe obstacles and restrictions both in the labor market and in everyday life. Moreover, it can be said that the integration of immigrants is spontaneous as the programs fail to ensure the integration of all foreign nationals living legally and, to some extent, lead to the segregation of immigrants.