The International Organization for Migration (IOM) initiated a two day workshop during the course of the Project “Improving migrant workers access to health services in Tajikistan”. The project was funded by the IOM Development Fund in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tajikistan, Migration Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and with a technical support of International Labour Organization. The workshop was designed to improve employers’ knowledge of the recruitment of Tajik and foreign citizens and on health and safety in the workplace. The workshop was conducted under the auspices of the Regional Coordination Training Center on Migration and HIV and took place on August 23-24, 2012.

The main goal of the workshop was to raise employers’ awareness on migrants’ right to health services, as well as introduce a new occupational safety and health management system (ILO-OSH). This included the prevention of infectious diseases, such as HIV and TB, in the workplace. The event was attended by representatives from different foreign and private companies, including specialists from the Republic of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health, Migration Services, State Service for Supervision of Labour under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Employers Association, Trade Union and the HIV service community organization.

“We have to ensure that workers and employers are educated about health and safety measures to prevent occupational accidents in the workplace, as well strengthen efforts to improve access of migrant workers to health services ” noted Mr. Boboev Anvar – the First Deputy of the Head of Migration Service under the Government of Tajikistan.

IOM representatives introduced the participants to the mission and activities of the organization in Tajikistan. They also informed participants on the basics of migrants’ rights to health. The specialists from the National Center for the Prevention and Control of TB and AIDS made a presentation on the epidemiological situation of HIV and tuberculosis infections in Tajikistan and neighboring countries. Special attention was given to the prevention and control of infectious diseases, as well as to the challenges faced by people living with HIV in dealing with stigma, discrimination, and legal issues. The thought-provoking sessions on access to diagnostics and treatment raised pertinent questions and initiated vibrant discussions amongst participants.

ILO representatives provided key information about the ILO’s international labor standards relating to migrant workers’ rights (ILO Convention 97 and 143), as well as labor inspection and occupational safety and health (ILO Convention 81 and 155), and Recommendation #200 on HIV/AIDS in the workplace and the ILO’s code of practice on HIV/AIDS in the world of work. The ILO’s Recommendation #200 is the first international labor standard adopted by the 183 member states, which calls for the development and implementation of national tripartite and gender oriented programs on HIV/AIDS in the workplace. In addition, participants were provided with a strategy developed and approved by the Republic of Tajikistan’s tripartite social partners specializing in HIV/AIDS in the workplace. It was also approved by Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health and the Committee on women and family issues in 2012.

At the end of the workshop, the participants developed a number of recommendations to improve migrant workers’ and workers of other sectors of economy (for example, hotel management, private sector, construction and manufacturing) to health services in the country. Recommendations included arranging additional meetings with employers, disseminating informative material in foreign languages, educating and assisting individuals at the workplace on issues such as health and safety, and HIV, through labor inspections by human resources departments.