DUSHANBE, October 19, Asia-Plus  -- Two projects on combating human trafficking and managing labor migrations were presented by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNDP CO in Dushanbe last Wednesday. 

Deputy Labor and Social Security Minister, Emin Sanginov, speaking at the presentation ceremony noted that the project entitled “Stable Partnership as Toll to Provide Efficient Management of Manpower in Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia” is designed for labor migrants and their families, national governments and trade unions.  “The main objective of the project is to promote national and regional dialogue among social partners on issues related to more efficient and fair norms of management of migration flows,” said the deputy minister.  According to him, the project launched in January 2007 will e finished in December 2009 and the estimated budget for implementation of this project is more than $2.4 million.  

The next project formally titled “Development of Local Communities through Creation of Jobs and Improvement of Migration Management System” is being implemented in Rasht Valley, the deputy minister said.  According to him, the project is aimed at combating human trafficking from Tajikistan through improvement of the employment policy.  Beneficiaries of this project are potential migrants who may find themselves in irregular situation and become victims of abuse and forced labor, and one-parent families, which have to put up with long-term consequences of migration.  A total cost of the project designed for two years (July 1 2007 – June 30 2009) is $1.065 million.    

In the meantime, the ILO Senior Technical Adviser Nilim Barua (phonetically spelled) noted that labor migrants make significant contribution to development of the economies of their countries and the countries of destination.  According to him, remittances are tool for improving living standards of labor migrants and their families. 

“According to our data, more than 600,000 Tajik seasonal workers travel abroad each year, primarily to Russia but also to neighboring Kazakhstan,” Mr. Barua said.  

According to him, trade unions are assigned to play a significant role in elaboration of policy on labor migrants.  “It is necessary to establish relations among trade unions in different countries as well as strengthen contacts between labor migrants and trade unions,” he said.