Social integration of international migrants in Primorsky kray: problems and perspectives

Primorsky kray is among most developed regions of Russia's Far East. However, the region is depopula ting as mortality rate exceeds birth rate and due to out-migration of a local population. Labor migration partly compensates labor deficiency in the local labor market. Integration of international migrants becomes a vital issue. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that facilitate or hamper international migrants' integration to a local labor market, medical care and institutions of cultural integration of Primorski kray, as well as practices used by migrants to overcome the barriers. The research is based on statistical data and data from prior published research as well as on the results from 12 expert interviews. The experts are specialized in the field of migration in Primorsky krai. International migrants encounter barriers when obtaining the legal work permissions and with a limited access to the medical care services. To overcome the barriers, migrants use a wide range of resources including services of intermediary firms specialized on migrants from the APEC countries as well as NGO services. To reduce social risks related to labor migration and to enhance migrants' social integration, a system of the organized recruitment of labor migrants in their countries of origin is needed for their consequent employment in Primorsky kray. In addition, to facilitate migrants' ethno-cultural and linguistic adaptation, further development of civic organizations is needed.