Almaty, Kazakhstan, 3-4 March 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the UK government, successfully organized a workshop within the framework of the "Safe Migration of Seasonal Workers from Central Asia to the UK" project. The event, held in coordination with the Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Department for Combating Cybercrime, focused on defining cybercrime in the context of recruitment scams and the various fraudulent tactics used to exploit job seekers.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders, including government officials and Labour Mobility Centres, to raise awareness of recruitment fraud through discussions on real-world cases, the impact of scams, and successful prevention strategies. Through interactive sessions, participants analyzed emerging scam patterns in labor migration.

"IOM has created a vital platform for dialogue on the fight against cybercrime, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the organizers for this opportunity," said Samal Sharipova, Senior Police Officer of the Department for Combating Cybercrime, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. "By bringing together international experts and specialists from across Kazakhstan, this event strengthens durable solutions in the fight against cybercrime and fosters the invaluable exchange of experience in cybersecurity."

During the event, discussions explored effective referral mechanisms, identified gaps in government responses, and compared international best practices for preventing and mitigating recruitment fraud. The workshop also provided participants with foresight tools to anticipate future challenges, integrate scam prevention strategies into policymaking, and strengthen cross-border collaboration to protect migrant workers.

"What we have witnessed here is a tremendous amount of desire and enthusiasm, an appetite to address these topics from various government agencies and public authorities, which is absolutely vital. The only way to truly and effectively mitigate these risks for migrant workers from a regulatory and protection perspective is through a collective effort.  All relevant government bodies should be a part of the solution, and working towards the same goals, and collaborating not only within Kazakhstan but also with their counterparts in countries of origin and destination," said Philip Hunter, IOM Expert.

During the interactive sessions real-case examples of corporate fraud were discussed, along with traditional candidate screening methods, including background checks, interviews, and testing. Participants received an overview of international practices in security for migrant worker recruitment and analyzed a few international cases of hiring migrant workers. The discussions also explored technologies and strategies used in the global fraud prevention market, global good practices to address scams in recruitment, and international standards and instruments for employment. Additional topics included cybercrime in hiring and how fraudsters prey on job seekers, as well as the role of AI and digital technologies as both a weapon against fraudsters and a tool they can exploit.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants had the opportunity to brainstorm fraud prevention practices in Kazakhstan and develop recommendations for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. These recommendations aim to prevent fraud from the perspective of migrant workers, ensuring a safer and more transparent recruitment process.

Background information: the UK’s Seasonal Workers Scheme (SWS) provides seasonal workers entry and employment in the UK for up to 6 months to fill seasonal gaps in agriculture. Since 2020, the number of Kazakh nationals receiving the UK’s Seasonal Worker visas has grown significantly, exceeding 5,000 people in 2024. It is imperative that the migrants’ migration experiences are as positive as possible - from the recruitment process, to employment, to return - to mitigate the risks and maximize the benefits of this migration for the livelihoods and quality of life of migrants and their families. 

In Kazakhstan, recruitment of migrant workers under the SWS is officially carried out by the UK-based SWS operators (private recruitment companies) and their sub-contractors (also private recruitment companies) licensed by the UK government. Misinformation and fraud have been rife as there has thus far been no legitimate and reliable information disseminated by the Government of Kazakhstan on the SWS and more specifically, recruitment.

Since 2024, IOM has been supporting the Kazakh government’s engagement in the SWS at the country level to ensure that potential migrants receive accurate and reliable information about the SWS, reducing the risk of exploitation and trafficking. It also helps regulate labour migration flows, ensuring the protection of workers' rights and enhancing bilateral cooperation with the UK.

IOM remains committed to fostering partnerships that drive meaningful progress in combatting recruitment fraud and ensuring the safety of migrant workers. Moving forward, the organization aims to further enhance international cooperation and policy frameworks to safeguard labor migration.

For media inquiries, please contact:

IOM Kazakhstan: Aliya KOZHAKHMETOVA, akozhakhmeto@iom.int