Migration and development is a key priority in Central Asia and neighbouring countries, especially given the scale of labour mobility in the region. Recognising the need for both high and lower-skilled workers, the issue of orderly managed migration, in particular labour migration, is increasingly important in the Central Asian region. It is an important theme for further policy discussion in the framework of the Customs Union because the Customs Union provides certain liberties in terms of human mobility within its boundaries, therefore allowing migrant workers opportunities within its vast geographical territory. This discussion involves international and national stakeholders, public and private sector partners.

Mr. Askar Kishkembayev, Head of the Secretariat of the Member of the Board, of the Minister of Economy and Financial Policy, Eurasian Economic Commission(EEC), emphasized the importance of the Customs’ Union which will allow  the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour force.  The EEC pays particular attention in regulating labor mobility for the benefit of sending and receiving countries so that labor migration can contribute to regional and sub-regional development especially within the context of the Customs Union; In 2013, IOM has signed an MOU with EEC which provides a concrete framework of cooperation in the relevant areas of interest.

Mr. Aibat Akhmetalimov, Managing Director of the Philip Morris Kazakhstan (PMK)  presented the company's initiatives on ensuring safe and fair working conditions and on eliminating child labor in the agricultural sector, in rural areas of Kazakhstan. PMK has launched a multi-year comprehensive program on rural development in Almaty region. Partnering with local NGOs and authorities, PMK has established a functioning support line service for migrant workers and put in place a monitoring team to mediate solutions. NGOs provide a broad range of services from consultancy, to aid and advocacy to farmworkers complementing efforts of the Government to  protect migrant workers’ rights and  labor laws. In order to address underlying systemic root cause for labor abuses, as poverty, Philip Morris Kazakhstan came up with an innovative farmer-training center in Almaty region. The overall objective is to develop entrepreneurial savvy, business acumen and management skills of farmers which in its turn becomes a solid basis for promotion of entrepreneurship and creation of small household businesses.  PMK remains committed to openly and actively engage with international stakeholders such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labor Organization (ILO), the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan and local NGOs in addressing issues of concern. Information on the program is widely distributed to interested stakeholders. 

Mrs. Lara White, Senior Labour Migration Specialist, International Organization for Migration (IOM) presented IOM’s International Recruitment Integrity System “IRIS” initiative and highlighted how fair and ethical recruitment has a positive impact on both migrants and the private sector, preventing recruitment abuses and protecting migrant workers’ rights; https://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/what-we-do/labour-migration.html