DUSHANBE, December 21, 2009, Asia-Plus — A seminar formally titled “Regulating Labor Migration as An Instrument of Development and Regional Cooperation in Central Asia” took place in Dushanbe last Saturday, December 19.
According to the Interior Ministry migration service, the meeting brought together representatives from president’s executive office, ministries of labor, health, finance, foreign affairs, education and the interior ministry migration service as well as representatives from the International Labor Organization (ILO) and independent experts to discuss policy frameworks, strategies and mechanisms for regulating labor migration as an instrument for development and cooperation in and among Central Asia countries.
The seminar participants also discussed the project, Regulating Labor Migration and cooperation in Central Asia, which is financed by the European commission.
The overall objective of the project is to ensure the development of a more comprehensive strategy for labor migration and more effective regulation of migration flows in Central Asia. The specific objectives include developing harmonized policies, legislation and administrative tools for the management of labor migration in order to assist migrant workers and their families and to ensure that both sending and receiving countries benefit to the maximum extent from migration by supporting the development of a more comprehensive labor migration strategy for the region.
The meeting participants also discussed issues related to a survey on the current labor migration situation and recommendations on improvement of the process of collecting, updating and exchanging data on labor migration both at national and regional levels that are being worked out by independent experts, the source said.
Besides, they considered analysis of offer of labor resources, protection of labor and social care of labor migrants working abroad.
