DUSHANBE, September 28, 2010, Asia-Plus -- The first meeting of a working group for migration issues within the Public Council at the Tajik Embassy in Moscow took place on September 25.

According to the embassy, the meeting brought together representatives from the Public Council, Tajik public associations operating in various regions of Russia, and representative offices of the Interior Ministry migration service and Tajik Railways in Russia to discuss problems that face Tajik labor migrants in Russia.

They, in particular, discussed issues related to legalization and medical insurance of labor migrants, getting working permits, human trafficking problems and nonpayment of wages by dishonest employers to Tajik migrant workers.

The meeting participants decided to develop a plan of actions on providing social and legal aid to Tajik nationals arriving in Russia for seasonal work.  They also pointed to the necessity of improvement of a mechanism of collaboration of heads of Tajik public associations operating in Russia with Tajikistan’s official representatives in Russia as well as media and the government institutions of Tajikistan, the source said.