Newsroom
International organizations warn Tajik workers against dangers of employment abroad
DUSHANBE 29 July 2002
DUSHANBE, 29 July 2002 - The OSCE Mission to Tajikistan, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Country Offices in Tajikistan urge Tajik nationals wishing to travel abroad in search of employment to consider carefully the prevailing dangers they face, including deception, exploitation, loss of money and documents, as well as other risks.
At a joint press conference held in Dushanbe today, representatives of the three organizations warned that new trans-national criminal groups are appearing and becoming ever more adapt at extracting profit from Tajik migrant workers. Evidence shows that criminals take advantage of Tajik workers' poor knowledge of market and employment realities when travelling and searching for jobs abroad.
Recently the OSCE, IOM and UNHCR Offices learnt of the case of 220 Tajik citizens from Sughd Province, who were fooled into taking credits to travel and seek employment abroad. The dealer, linked to Auto Station Rahi-Abreshim in Khujand, was to take them to Russia by bus. On the way in Kyrgyzstan this person failed to pay for part of the transport and disappeared. As a result, the Tajik migrants' documents were confiscated by drivers and they were stranded on the road on 2 July for several weeks.
Similar incidents have occurred in the past couple months. On 30 May, on the road between Osh and Bishkek Kyrgyz authorities found that four KamAZ truck drivers were carrying each some 70 undocumented Tajik nationals in inhuman conditions. These persons had also been trying to seek jobs abroad.
The international organizations advise that all Tajik nationals who intend to travel abroad in search of employment should gather as much information as possible from different sources on the travel conditions and employment realities at destination. It is strongly recommended that in addition to originals, copies of passports, valid labour contracts, medical certificates and other necessary documentation are also taken.
For more information on dangers and advice, please call 21-03-02 in Dushanbe and 6-06-05 in Khujand.
At a joint press conference held in Dushanbe today, representatives of the three organizations warned that new trans-national criminal groups are appearing and becoming ever more adapt at extracting profit from Tajik migrant workers. Evidence shows that criminals take advantage of Tajik workers' poor knowledge of market and employment realities when travelling and searching for jobs abroad.
Recently the OSCE, IOM and UNHCR Offices learnt of the case of 220 Tajik citizens from Sughd Province, who were fooled into taking credits to travel and seek employment abroad. The dealer, linked to Auto Station Rahi-Abreshim in Khujand, was to take them to Russia by bus. On the way in Kyrgyzstan this person failed to pay for part of the transport and disappeared. As a result, the Tajik migrants' documents were confiscated by drivers and they were stranded on the road on 2 July for several weeks.
Similar incidents have occurred in the past couple months. On 30 May, on the road between Osh and Bishkek Kyrgyz authorities found that four KamAZ truck drivers were carrying each some 70 undocumented Tajik nationals in inhuman conditions. These persons had also been trying to seek jobs abroad.
The international organizations advise that all Tajik nationals who intend to travel abroad in search of employment should gather as much information as possible from different sources on the travel conditions and employment realities at destination. It is strongly recommended that in addition to originals, copies of passports, valid labour contracts, medical certificates and other necessary documentation are also taken.
For more information on dangers and advice, please call 21-03-02 in Dushanbe and 6-06-05 in Khujand.