IOM Kazakhstan Launches Campaign to Support Safe Labor Migration
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Workforce Development Center and Kazpost, has launched the Ashyq Álem (Open World) campaign to assist migrant workers from Kazakhstan and Central Asia in preparing for safe and informed employment abroad. The initiative runs from Sept. 4, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2026, and focuses on financial literacy, pre-departure training, and access to reliable information.
According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population, 140,521 Kazakh citizens worked abroad in 2024, compared to 191,000 in 2023. Key destinations include Russia, Korea, Turkiye, the UK, Qatar, and the UAE. In 2020, the number of Central Asian migrant workers reached 7.8 million, according to IOM data. The campaign will distribute educational materials in Kazakh and Russian, including posters, videos, online courses, and media publications, while promoting key messages via social media.
Findings and results will be shared with government agencies and partners to inform broader policy and program development. Participants will also gain access to information on labor rights, services, and protection mechanisms through government platforms (skills.enbek.kz, migration.enbek.kz) and Labor Mobility and Career Growth Centers. The initiative forms part of IOM’s regional Labor Migration Program – Central Asia, Phase 1, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Established in 1951, the IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and has been part of the UN system since 2016. Kazakhstan joined IOM in 2002. The IOM Office in Kazakhstan coordinates migration-related projects across Central Asia.
Photo credit: IOM
