“Sairam Sabosi”, 21/11/2008
A. Niez

   After the proclamation of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan after 90 years, the flow of migrant workers from neighboring countries has increased. This has contributed to the success of Kazakhstan in the sphere of economic development. For the construction of the new capital of Astana it was necessary to get assistance from migrant workers from far and near abroad. In this regard, we began to bring the labor force from abroad, particularly from Central Asia; in particular, from the Republic of Uzbekistan. They can be found everywhere: in private farms, construction sites, agricultural sites, and other locations. There is nothing to hide, many migrant workers from Uzbekistan are in difficult situations. In particular, sometimes they do not receive their payment of wages from their employer. At this time, migrant workers do not know where to turn for help.
   Recently, the Legal Center for Women's Initiatives “Sana Sezim” began to work actively to provide legal assistance in solving the problems of migrant workers, illegal migrants, and refugees. Through the provision of various kinds of legal assistance to migrant workers the violations of their rights have reduced.
   To date, the organization carries out its valuable work in the field. This year, in the Sairam district an operating branch of the Legal Center for Women's Initiatives “Sana Sezim” opened. The consultant appointed to this branch is Botir Norbaev. He has made a tremendous contribution to the restoration of the violated rights of migrant workers. Botir Norbaev knows well the lives of migrants, their joys, and worries. Botir Norbaev believes it is his personal debt to help protect the rights of countless compatriots who pursue honest work far from their loved ones to make the existence. I recently met with Botir Norbaev. We talked about the rights of migrant workers. According to him, the Sairam counseling center has been contacted by more than a hundred migrant workers since the branch opened. Most of them called for help with questions about the non payment of their wages. There are those who have lost a passport and asked for help to restore the documents. Also, there are cases where the documents have been taken by law enforcement officials.
   No one has the right to take the passport of the migrant,” said Botir Norbaev. Indeed members of the migration police precinct have the authority to check the presence of the necessary documents (passport, migration card). In the absence of the necessary documents, the police are obliged to arrest him and hold him for no more than three hours. If the identification has not been enough, the migrant will have thirty days, pending on the receipt of documents certifying his identity. If a migrant worker does not violate the rules of stay in the territory of Kazakhstan, it has the same rights as citizens of Kazakhstan. If you violate the rules of stay in Kazakhstan, members of the Department of Internal Affairs have the right to impose a fine, reduce the length of your stay, or deport you from Kazakhstan. But the decision on expulsion from the country shall be made only by a court.
   Most migrant workers are faced with difficulties, as the attraction of a job is often achieved by deception on the part of employers. According to law enforcement agencies last spring, at a major oil-fat mill 20-30 migrant workers from Uzbekistan entered into an oral contract with an employer for two months. But after a while the head began to work them for free through intimidation and threats. Of course great law enforcement officers, who intervened at the time and freed the workers. The migrants were helped to safely return home. The Sairam center is not limited only to providing assistance to migrant workers. Recently, at the Center Botir Norbaev addressed groups of young people from the villages of Karabulak and Karamurt who have been victims of this deception for construction in the city of Almaty. In addressing this issue, human rights organizations helped the city of Almaty.
   At the end of our conversation Botir Norbaev gave me a booklet “Pocket Guide for migrant worker”. This brochure was published with the support of the Eurasia Foundation in Central Asia, and contains information on the rights of migrant workers both in Russian and Uzbek languages. The booklet for migrant workers is very useful as it provides information about how to work, receive treatment, as well as other basic rights of migrant workers, which are listed in detail. It also lists the addresses and telephones of the government, NGOs, embassies, and consulates in order to address the crises. A person who is familiar with this booklet, of course, will know what a migrant worker is. This booklet will help migrant workers to demand from their employer their honestly earned money. Our state is moving in a democratic direction, and we must learn to observe and respect human rights. Kazakhstan plans to chair the Organization of Security Council of Europe in 2010. So it is our human duty, or rather our consciousness, to be a culture that corresponds to high levels.