Tajik Labor Minister Mukhamadsho Ilolov has announced the results of a recent countrywide poll conducted by his ministry that shows that as many as 350,000 Tajik citizens are working abroad. As of 2002, the Tajik population was estimated at 6.23 million. About 90 percent of the labor migrants are working in Russia, Ilolov added, with small numbers having found jobs in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Most leave to search for work independently, without carrying out the necessary formalities, which according to Ilolov is the source of their problems with the authorities of the countries in which they seek jobs and also with employers. The minister appealed to potential labor migrants to use the services of organizations licensed to export labor and familiarize themselves with Russian legislation on foreign citizens. (centran.ru)