International Experience on Protection of Labor Migrants’ Rights and Its Application to Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

This paper analyses international experience with regard to protection of labour migrants’ rights and the relevant lessons from this experience for Kyrgyzstan. We look at seven dimensions that help determine outcomes for migrants: how other migrant-sending countries organise migration policy management; institutions developed by other countries to support labour migrants; protection of migrants from abuse by recruiters and employers; accountability of law enforcement and policies to reduce discrimination and abuse of migrant workers; policies that facilitate pension portability for migrants and their access to health care and other social services; the ways other countries mobilise resources from the diaspora for local economic development; and the modes of international cooperation in the areas of migration and human rights. Based on lessons from these dimensions, we develop policy recommendations for Kyrgyzstan.

Keywords: migration, human rights, migration policy, economic development, Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan

JEL Classification: J61, J68, J71, O15, O57