Determinants and Consequences of Irregular Migration in a Society under Transition. The Case of Georgia, Caucasus

Irina Badurashvili, Georgian Centre of Population Research

Actual economic and political situation in the countries of former Soviet Union became a push factor for great masses of labor migrants that are basically considered as irregular in the countries of destination. The majority of them does not want to stay abroad permanently and stays there to improve the financial situation of their families. These migrants are characterized as mobile, entering and leaving flows and represent the potential flows of irregular labor emigration from Georgia to Russia, Western European countries and USA. Presented paper is based on the results of a special research of 1000 returned migrants, Georgian citizens, who had left for abroad during the period 1991-2002 with intention to work and have returned now back to Georgia. Respondents were interviewed about their living and labor activity in foreign country, remittances to own families and their personal plans for future migration