Bishkek– The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched a series of trainings on 27 June 2024 for Safe Migration Hotline Operators in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan on how to support prospective migrants travelling to the UK under the Seasonal Workers’ Scheme (SWS). 

It is vital that prospective migrants, as well as those already in the UK, are aware of their rights and responsibilities, and know which resources they can access if they face challenges in their countries of origin, transit or in the UK such as labour exploitation, scams and misinformation, unethical recruitment, or abuses. As a result, IOM’s Safe Migration Hotline Operators require robust knowledge of how to support migrants both in Central Asia, as well as in the UK.

To support them to develop their knowledge about the Scheme, IOM UK and the IOM Missions in Central Asia organised a customised training for Hotline Operators, covering content such as rights and responsibilities of migrant workers, vulnerabilities and challenges they may face in the UK.  The Work Rights Centre and the Worker Support Centre, UK-based NGOs that provide advice and guidance to migrant workers on a range of employment issues, also presented on the scope of their work and how Hotline Operators could refer Central Asian migrants working in the UK to their services if they are facing challenges.

“Many people in Kazakhstan seek to work abroad for better opportunities and income. However, they often face challenges and risks from middlemen who charge them high fees and do not deliver on their promises. The training today covered and clarified these issues in depth, with valuable insights from the UK representatives. I learned a lot from this training and plan to apply this knowledge. I suggest that we spread and promote the information from this training, such as through the local authorities in Kazakhstan, on how to work legally and safely in the UK,” – shared Sayat Koziev, Safe Migration Hotline Operator in Kazakhstan.

The training is part of the regional IOM project “Safe Migration of seasonal workers from Central Asia to the UK,” which aims to improve the protection and well-being of seasonal agricultural workers from Central Asia, and to contribute to the economic development of participating Central Asian countries.