Bishkek– On August 28, the Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr. Olivier Bangerter, and the Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ms. Jyldyz Polotova, met to discuss ways to improve the management of labour migration in the Kyrgyz Republic. The meeting, organized by the Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Kyrgyz Republic, was held as part of the visit to the country of Ms. Ursula Keller Alazzavi, Deputy Head of Cooperation of the Embassy of Switzerland in Uzbekistan, Regional Migration Advisor in Central Asia, who oversees the regional IOM project Labour Migration Programme in Central Asia, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

In particular, the meeting focused on discussing the issues of migrant workers rights protection, comprehensive aspects of migration policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as on the needs of returned migrant workers.

Labor migration makes a tangible contribution to the economic development of the Kyrgyz Republic. According to IOM, remittances from migrant workers account for about 30% of the country's GDP and are a vital source of income for many households. Labor migration also facilitates the exchange of skills, knowledge and culture, which also enriches social cohesion.

However, labor migration is also associated with challenges and risks. According to IOM research, migrants from Central Asia often work informally and do not match their skills to the job they do. This can reduce their income and make them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Migrants also rely on their social networks to find work, which limits their opportunities for legal employment.

The Regional Labour Migration Programme in Central Asia, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, aims to address these issues by strengthening the protection of the rights of migrant workers and their families and by developing an organized and secure employment systems.