DUSHANBE, February 1, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The newly established Migration Service under the Government of Tajikistan and the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Mission in Tajikistan have discussed a joint plan of actions for 2011.

According to the IOM Mission in Tajikistan, the issue was considered here yesterday at a meeting of Zeynal Hajiyev, Head of the IOM Mission in Tajikistan, with Safiullo Devonayev, Head of the Migration Service under the Government of Tajikistan.

The sides noted that it was necessary to expand cooperation to promote implementation of Tajikistan’s national policy for labor migration and socio-legal protection of labor migrants.

Zeynal Hajiyev stressed that the IOM Mission was ready for implementation of joint plans on labor migration at higher level.  He offered assistance for drafting Regulations on the Migration Service that was established on January 21.

Hajiyev also suggested stipulating powers of regional structures and gave a detailed account of the Labor Migration in Central Asia project and the Rural Growth Program in Sughd province.

The two also considered issues related to working out the national labor migration development strategy for 2010-2015. 

We will recall that President Emomali Rahmon signed a decree on January 21 establishing a new agency to be in charge of the country’s migration policy.  It will perform functions previously carried out by the Interior Ministry migration service, representative offices of the Interior Ministry migration service in Russia, labor migration sections in Tajikistan’s consulates in Russia and the state agency for social protection, implement and migration at the Ministry Labor and Social Protection.