Atyrau – The Pre-departure Orientation (PDO) Center opened its doors on December 18, 2024 within the framework of cooperation between IOM, Atyrau oblast Akimat and Workplace Development Center, and with the support of the Commission on Human Rights under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This event commemorates International Migrants Day, observed every year on 18 December, the date when the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers was adopted.

The initiative is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the framework of the IOM project “Labour Migration Programme – Central Asia, Phase 1”. The initiative aims to contribute to enhancing labour migration governance to better respond to employer and labour market needs while ensuring protection of migrant workers and enhancing development impacts in both countries of origin and destination.       

The oil rich region with a population of about 700,000 people needs adjustable labour mobility strategies and population’s awareness raising, provided the diversification of the economy and high demand of labour force in the foreign labour markets. Welcomed and supported by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as by the Akimat of the Atyrau Region, this PDO centre seeks to improve the experiences of local citizens who are considering migration to other countries for work. In a safe and inclusive environment, 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.

According to the data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 137 thousand Kazakh citizens are abroad for employment purposes in 2024. The largest share lives in the Russian Federation, Republic of Korea, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates, others choose such countries as the United Kingdom or Poland. As per the sources, as of 2024, more than 1,000 people are already working in Qatar for a salary of more than $5,000 in top Qatari and international companies. Bureau of National Statistics data shows that people with technical (2.2 thousand people in 2023), economic (1.1 thousand people), pedagogical (795 people), medical (429 people) and legal specialties (252 people) most often emigrate from Kazakhstan.

The Government of Kazakhstan’s formal involvement in migration management is still in its early stages. Recruitment for foreign employment has largely been carried out on an ad hoc basis by various private recruitment agencies. Unfortunately, misinformation has been widespread, as the government has yet to provide credible and consistent information on recruitment processes abroad. Labor Migration Centers (LMCs) play a pivotal role in equipping prospective migrants with the necessary skills and knowledge for working abroad, particularly outside the CIS region, through PDO sessions. These sessions address critical topics such as contract terms, workplace safety, emergency communication channels, and financial literacy, including remittance management. By offering this comprehensive guidance, PDO sessions aim to enhance the readiness of migrants, empowering them to navigate potential challenges effectively while working overseas.

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