Turkistan – On 4 November, a new pre-departure orientation (PDO) information centre opened its doors at the Labour Mobility Centre in Turkistan, a city of over 200,000 people. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan and IOM Kazakhstan, this centre seeks to improve the experiences of local citizens who are considering migration to other countries for work. The PDO information centre will provide labour migrants key information and support to help them make informed decisions and prepare them for their journey ahead.

“Kazakhstan is committed to safeguarding the rights and well-being of our migrant workers, ensuring that they are equipped with the knowledge and resources necessary for a safer and more productive migration experience. The Labour Mobility Centre will act as a centralized hub, providing migrants with vital information from qualified personnel,” explained Satybaldy Darkhan Amangeldiuly, Mayor of Turkistan region.

Funded by UK International Development from the UK Government, IOM activities are aimed at providing vital capacity-building assistance to the Labour Mobility Centre. This includes the launch of a dedicated hotline, comprehensive training for hotline operators and Labour Mobility Centre’s staff, and the provision of essential equipment.

“The number of Kazakh workers coming to the UK under our Seasonal Workers Scheme has increased significantly over the last few years – from just 4 people receiving a seasonal worker visa in 2019 to 4,423 in just the first half of 2024. Our top priority is to make sure that all workers coming to the UK are well-prepared in advance of their journey and have a positive experience of living and working in the UK. We welcome the opening of this dedicated PDO information centre to support them,” noted Kathy Leach, British Ambassador to Kazakhstan.

Pre-departure migrant training courses provide a safe and secure forum to ask questions and address fears and concerns, thereby enabling migrants to gain a better sense of their rights, obligations and the potential risks. Migrant training helps in developing the skills and awareness necessary to successfully adapt to their new society, and offering crucial advice on accessing support channels while they are working abroad. Particular attention is placed on facilitating the integration of women.

“Ultimately, pre-departure trainings at a dedicated PDO information centre strives to empower labour migrants to adapt more rapidly and successfully to the day-to-day demands of their new environment and to enable them to better navigate the services in place”, added Serhan Aktoprak, Chief of Mission at IOM Kazakhstan, Country Office with Coordinating Functions for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The inauguration of the PDO information centre in Turkistan is an integral component of the regional IOM project “Safe Migration of Seasonal Workers from Central Asia to the United Kingdom.” This initiative seeks to enhance the protection and well-being of seasonal agricultural workers from Central Asia and to contribute to the continuing economic development of participating Central Asian countries.

For media inquiries, please contact:

IOM Kyrgyzstan: Zulaika ESENTAEVA, zesentaeva@iom.int

IOM Kazakhstan: Aliya KOZHAKHMETOVA, akozhakhmeto@iom.int