DUSHANBE, August 18, Asia-Plus — An official presentation of the first edition of quarterly magazine entitled “Muhojir” (Migrant) was held in the Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Dushanbe on August 18.
Mr. Mahmoud Naderi, the Head of IOM Mission in Tajikistan, telling the magazine-presenting ceremony noted that “Muhojir” was the first of its kind magazine in Central Asia and it was dedicated to provide a broad exchange of views on problems of labor migration.
“The magazine is dedicated to help society deeply realize realities of labor migration, risks and advantages connected with it,” said Mr. Naderi, “Besides, we hope the magazine will promote workout of efficient measures to improve management of migration processes and use of funds remitted by labor migrants.” The IOM Mission head recalled that at least some 600,000 Tajik migrants have to date been outside the country in search of better employment opportunities.
The “Muhojir” editor Rahmonov Ulmasov telling the ceremony noted that “last year alone, Tajik labor migrants remitted 600 million dollars through official channels to their relatives in Tajikistan, which is more than country’s annual budget.”
Among problems facing labor migration Mr. Ulmasov named poor participation of local authorities in the provinces in management of migration flows, insufficient link between parliamentarians and their voters, etc. “We hope our magazine will facilitate seeking solution to these problems,” the “Muhojir” editor noted.
The “Muhojir” magazine has a circulation of 99 copies and is intended for Tajikistan’s ministries and organizations, local authorities in the provinces, international organizations and diplomatic missions active in Tajikistan, as well as Tajik representative offices abroad.
Participants at the magazine-presentation ceremony proposed to improve quality of publications covering the migration problems.
Labor migrants are a critical component in the economies of most Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) nations. Remittances keep many struggling families at home above the poverty line, and help to alleviate the stress caused by a lack of domestic job opportunities.
