OUTGOING AND RETURNING LABOR MIGRANTS SUPPORTED THROUGH RURAL RESOURCE CENTERS
armradio.am
05.09.2007 11:38
Six local organizations and one inter-community union will establish
Migration and Return Resource Centers in rural communities of Armenia
with support from Eurasia Foundation (EF) to provide services to
outgoing and returning labor migrants in the Lori, Armavir, Kotayk,
Syunik, Tavush and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia.
Each resource center will provide legal consultations; information
on employment opportunities in Armenia, on registration procedures
in Russia, and on the risks of illegal migration; and training for
returnees on entrepreneurship. Some resource centers will receive
additional support for visits to establish partnerships with Russian
NGOs serving labor migrants for the exchange of information and lessons
learned. Through the establishment of these resource centers, Eurasia
Foundation hopes to decrease the level of illegal labor migration
from Armenia’s regions, to help protect the rights of labor migrants
while they are abroad, and to assist returnees as they reintegrate
into local communities.
The Foundation will also provide training to develop the capacities
of each partner organization to gather and analyze data on local
trends in local migration and on the experiences of labor migrants
while abroad. This information will help the resource centers better
serve potential labor migrants and work with policy makers to develop
improved mechanisms for protecting migrants’ rights. Through a series
of network meetings between these resource centers and government
representatives, EF will promote information exchange on issues
related to labor migration.
Partner organizations include: The Resource Center of Charentsavan,
Armavir Development Center, Yerevak NGO, Hope and Help NGO in Vanadzor,
Sisian Communities Union, Goris Youth Union, and Martuni Women’s
Community Center. These organizations were selected through an open
competition that was publicly announced in June 2007.