ALMATY – IOM, together with USAID and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan will host a Central Asian Regional Dialogue “Demand Reduction for Forced Labor and Slavery-like Working Conditions” on March 6, 2013 at 09:00 a.m. at the hotel Holiday Inn Almaty.

Demand for forced labor makes trafficking in persons the third most lucrative form of organized crime after arms and drug trafficking. Representatives of labor ministries, migration services, trade unions, associations of employers of all Central Asian Republics, as well as counter-trafficking NGOs, and international donor organizations will share experiences and develop recommendations for combatting trafficking in Central Asia. Participants will discuss regulations on the abolition of all forms of forced labor and slavery-like working conditions in Central Asian countries and enforcement of labor law on the forced labor and exploitation of migrants.

Chris Miller, USAID representative, shares his organization’s perspective on solutions. “Because human trafficking is often a cross-border crime, regional frameworks are necessary for promoting multilateral dialogue and agreements that address human trafficking and labor exploitation.  This is an area where the governments and people of Central Asia continue to cooperate and experience success.”