Pray for Tajik Migrant Workers

Rasul sat in a café in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, considering the message he had just received. He has just received an offer of a job in Germany picking fruit. He had been unemployed since leaving school a year ago and he was bored and frustrated with having no income. The job would be a great opportunity to travel and earn money.

But Rasul had also heard of people working abroad who were tricked into working for little or no wages. He decided to go to the mosque and ask for advice, as he knew many of the men he would meet there had worked abroad before.

Tajikistan is one of the poorest countries in Central Asia. Many Tajiks are unemployed and seek work abroad in Russia or, increasingly, in parts of western Europe. They are recruited to work in industries such as construction and agriculture. This can provide opportunities to earn money for their families, but they are often unable to work in occupations that use their skills or education. There are also many ways that migrant workers can fall prey to unscrupulous recruitment agents and employers who take advantage of their situation. Some may end up working long hours for little pay, but they are reluctant to speak out about their exploitation for fear of being sent home.

Tajikistan is 98% Muslim. There is a tiny minority of both Russian Orthodox and Protestant Christians, but the Tajik government is secular and maintains tight control of religious activity in the nation. Church activities are monitored, yet freedom of religion is guaranteed.

Learn more about Tajikistan at PersianWorld.org

How to Pray

• Pray for Tajiks who are looking for work abroad to find safe, legal work so they can support their families.
• Pray for the economic situation in Tajikistan to improve so Tajiks don’t have to leave their families to find work away from home.
• Pray for Muslims in Tajikistan to come to faith in Christ and for Tajik Muslims abroad to meet Christians and hear the gospel through them.