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Information Resource Centre for Labour Migrants

The Information Resource Centre for Labour Migrants (IRCLM) was established in Dushanbe in January 2004 by IOM with the financial support of the OSCE Centre in Tajikistan. While earlier the information on labour migration for citizens of Tajikistan, who make a living working in the informal sector abroad, was largely a monopoly of recruiters, smugglers and traffickers, after its establishment the centre has played an important role in providing information and counselling to many individual migrants and the general public.

The creation of an Information Resource Centre for Labour Migrants has enhanced the awareness level of labour migrants and intending economic migrants. By way of service oriented consultation, communication and establishing contacts, trained resource persons have made available accurate information related to labour migration and the legal, social, economic and cultural realities of transit and destination areas and the risks of irregular migration. Intending labour migrants have also been able to engage in dialogue with migration, employment and education authorities.

The IRCLM provides labour migrants and potential labour migrants with legal information about travels, border crossing, customs check, housing, registration, work permit, employment agencies, travel and employment risks including human trafficking, information about access to medical service, medical insurance, taxation, remittance and about administrative punishment of violations of arrival orders.

In addition to the activities in the centre in Dushanbe, IRCLM has also conducted counselling work in regions in close collaboration with governmental structures, NGOs, local jamoat leaders and mass media. This work has been aimed at providing counselling to vulnerable groups and disseminating information materials throughout the country. In November 2005 five mobile hotlines were also established in five regions of Tajikistan to further enhance the availability of information and reach more people. Through its cooperation with the media, the centre has had campaigns in TV and radio on migration related issues.

The IRCLM edit brochures, booklets and useful flyers for labour migrants about all aspects of migration. The information material also includes useful telephone numbers and contacts of organization that can help solve problems encountered abroad. In August 2005 IRC launched a website for labour migrants - “Diary of labour migrants”, www.migrant.tj - where they can find all information regarding labour migration, news and migration legislation of Tajikistan and receiving country as well. Furthermore labour migrants have the opportunity to use Internet in the centre in Dushanbe for seeking information about country, job, employer etc.

Another part of the IRCLM’s activities cover joint work with ministries and departments of Tajikistan, participation in workshops and conferences on various issues regarding migration and organising training on “Counselling and Informing labour migrants” for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Ministry of Education of Tajikistan. The IRCLM has also in cooperation with the Ministry of Education developed the handbook “Right of labour migrants abroad” for teachers of social disciplines at secondary schools. Ministries are also provided with necessary materials on Russian and Tajik legislation, CDs, maps and video course on migration legislation.

Besides IOM IRCLM established Information Resource Centers for Labour Migrants’ network in Ayni, Khujand, Rasht, Kulob, Hissor districts where labour migrants have access to up-to-date information on safe and legal migration.

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