Unemployment in the Area of Construction of the Turkestan-Siberian Railroad

Abstract

It is important to underline the relevance and role of the Turkish railroad construction in the early twentieth century, one of the most ambitious transport projects of those times. It was a unique project which connected Asia and Siberia. From the beginning of the construction of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway (Turksib), controversy began with construction and the labour force. This study explores the characteristics of the construction of Turksib with a focus on labour migration and labour law. The article deals with the archival materials of the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The results of this study will be useful as a basis for further research into the regions’ demographics and the characteristics of railroads and construction employment.