They opened a new pre-departure orientation information centre at Kazakhstan’s Labour Mobility Centre in Turkistan

A new pre-departure orientation (PDO) information centre was launched at the Labour Mobility Centre (LMC) in Turkistan, a city of over 200,000 people, on 4 November. The Ministry of Labour, Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan and IOM Kazakhstan spearhead this centre seeking to improve the experiences of local citizens who are considering migration to other countries for work. Key information and support will be provided by the PDO information centre to labour migrants to help them make informed decisions and prepare them for their journey ahead.
Satybaldy Darkhan Amangeldiuly, Mayor of Turkistan, explained that Kazakhstan wants to protect the rights and well-being of its migrant workers and give them all the knowledge and resources necessary for a safer and more productive migration experience.
The UK International Development from the UK Government funds IOM with the goal to provide vital capacity-building assistance to the LMC, including the launch of a dedicated hotline, comprehensive training for hotline operators and LMC staff and the provision of essential equipment.
Kathy Leach, British Ambassador to Kazakhstan, noted that the number of Kazakh workers coming to the UK under British Seasonal Workers Scheme has increased significantly over the last few years – from just 4 people receiving a seasonal worker visa in 2019 to 4,423 in just the first half of 2024.
A safe and secure forum to ask questions and address fears and concerns is provided by pre-departure migrant training courses. The skills and awareness necessary to successfully adapt to new societies can be developed and crucial advice on accessing support channels while working abroad are offered to workers by migrant training. Facilitation of the integration of women gets a particular attention.
Serhan Aktoprak, Chief of Mission at IOM Kazakhstan, Country Office with Coordinating Functions for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan added that ultimately, pre-departure trainings at a dedicated PDO information centre strives to empower labour migrants to adapt more rapidly and successfully to the day-to-day demands of their new environment and to enable them to better navigate the services in place.
The regional IOM project “Safe Migration of Seasonal Workers from Central Asia to the United Kingdom” includes the inauguration of the PDO information centre in Turkistan as its integral component. Enhancing the protection and well-being of seasonal agricultural workers from Central Asia and contribution to the continuing economic development of participating Central Asian countries are main goals that this initiative seeks to achieve.

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