IOM is today hosting a three-day workshop in Ulaanbaatar for 25
public officials, academics, trade union members and staff from
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to strengthen labour
migration management and promote a more coordinated response
between stakeholders.

The workshop, attended by officials from the Mongolian
Immigration Agency, the Ministries of Justice and Home Affairs,
Labour and Social Welfare, Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the
General Registration Office, addresses the challenge of managing
the country's increasing numbers of in-bound and out-bound labour
migrants.

 "As Mongolia continues to enhance the protection of
migrant rights and combat irregular migration, there is a need for
all stakeholders to improve coordination, share  expertise and
discuss best practices," says Kieran Best, who manages IOM's
"Capacity Building for Migration Management (CBMM) in Mongolia"
project.

The CBMM project is a broad cooperation initiative comprising of
border assessments, trainings and study tours.

The Ulaanbaatar training, facilitated by experts from IOM, the
Mongolian government, academia and the NGO community, is funded by
IOM through its 1035 Facility for Member States.

"The workshop will contribute greatly to labour migration
management at a time when the government of Mongolia is making
efforts to improve labour emigration and immigration management
policies and legislation. We need to enhance protection of
Mongolian migrant workers' rights and to better regulate the
employment status of foreign workers in Mongolia," said Davaa
Nyamkhuu, Vice Minister for Labour and Social Welfare speaking at
the opening of the workshop.

"This training in response to identified government needs will
strengthen the capacity of staff to harmonize our labour admission,
cross-border migration and recruitment agency systems with
international legal norms and best practice," said Dashdorj Muren,
Director-General of the Mongolian Immigration Agency.

Since 2007 IOM has also implemented a series of
counter-trafficking initiatives, including trainings for public
officials, NGO staff and social workers, as well as direct
assistance to victims of trafficking, in Mongolia.

For more information please contact:

Kieran Best

IOM Beijing

Tel: +86 10 8532 5303, Ext. 203

E-mail: "mailto:kgormanbest@iom.int">kgormanbest@iom.int