Moldovan labor migration into the European Union
The article gives a characteristic of Moldovan labor migration into the European Union. The authors show that Moldovan labor migration into the EU begins in the second half of the 1990's. Since the late 1990's – the early 2000's, it acquires a mass character. The main reasons of Moldovan migration into the European Union are economic reasons. The factors that determine the choice of country for labor migration are varied. These are the desire to earn more money and to provide the growth of welfare for themselves and their family; lingual proximity; the presence of social capital, and others. The different forms of infiltration and stay in the EU that are used by the Moldovan labor migrants are uncovered. Among these, tourist visas, illegal border crossings, illegal employment and legal individual and collective labor contracts, labor quotas, the visa-free regime and labor visas are noted. The process of formation of Moldovan communities in the EU is becoming massive since the 2000's. The most attractive countries for Moldovan labor migration are Italy, Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Czechia, and Portugal. Italy is the absolute leader in attracting Moldovan labor migrants. The formation of Moldovan communities in the EU corresponds to world practice: starting with the familiarization with the capital cities, the migrants gradually familiarize themselves with the accepting country's other regions. The Moldovan communities form primarily through the presence of labor migrants of young ages. Typical, especially on the early stage, is the clearly defined gender direction, conditioned by the requirements of the labor market in the destination countries. The consolidation of migrant communities leads to the expansion of the range of age structure and to the leveling of the sex/ gender structure of the Moldovan communities. Male Moldovan labor migrants are mainly engaged in constructions, women – in the field of housekeeping and nursing services. Gradually, the field of their labor activity expands; they work in ...