OSCE Centre trains national experts on labour migration management in Kazakhstan
ASTANA, 27 November 2014 – A training workshop on the legal aspects of managing labour migration as well as monitoring and recruitment procedures of the foreign labour force took place today in Astana.
The event was co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, the Health and Social Development Ministry and the Office of the OSCE Co-ordinator for Economic and Environmental Activities in co-operation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Experts from the United Kingdom, the OSCE Secretariat and the IOM led the workshop for some 30 government officials and civil society representatives. The participants examined current recruitment and employment procedures for the foreign labour force, international standards and best practices on labour migration monitoring, migration data collection and the promotion of inter-agency co-operation in this area.
“With further integration into the global economy, countries will face a growing urgency to address complex and sensitive issues related to regulating labour migration. Currently, Kazakhstan as a receiving country needs to take targeted measures to shape an effective and integrated system of monitoring and recruiting foreign workers in accordance with national interests and international standards,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “Clearly this issue requires serious analytical studies and expert discussion, and its solution will only come about through joining efforts, implementing best practices and finding sustainable approaches.”
Akmadi Sarbasov, Chairperson of the Committee on Labour, Social Protection and Migration of the Ministry of Health and Social Development said: “To ensure the competitiveness of our economy and to maintain and accelerate the pace of its development, we must look at migration through the prism of different state goals and objectives aimed to establish an effective labour market for our industrialization and economic diversification. By managing foreign labour force migration we should seek the tools to attract highly qualified specialists to Kazakhstan, form an open labour market and a favourable investment climate in the country.”
The event is part of the Centre’s multi-year activities on efficient labour migration management, which is addressed from a social, economic and national security perspective.