On March 26, 2019, the Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration in Moscow, Abdusattor Esoev, met with the Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Labour and Employment, Ivankov Mikhail Yuryevich, along with his five-member delegation. The meeting was also attended by representatives of IOM Moscow.

The Federal Service for Labour and Employment (Rostrud) is a federal executive body performing the functions of control and supervision over labour, employment, alternative civilian service, special assessment of workplace conditions and social protection issues; provision of state services in connection with employment promotion and protection against unemployment, labour migration, and settlement of collective labour disputes; and provision of social guarantees for socially disadvantaged groups stipulated by the laws of the Russian Federation.

Starting the meeting the Deputy Head of Rostrud introduced the main activities of the Service, highlighted the ongoing modernization of the state employment service aimed at transition from just services provision to targeted complex problem solving.

IOM Chief of Mission Abdusattor Esoev briefed the delegation about IOM in general and focusing more on labour migration and the ethical recruitment of migrant workers. IOM’s IRIS (International Recruitment Integrity System) has been shared with Rostrud as the ethical recruitment tool for employing migrant workers.

During the meeting key areas for cooperation were identified with common interest for two organizations, in particular the organized recruitment of foreign nationals, as an important direction of Rostrud’s work in the field of migration. Since the aim of signing such intergovernmental agreement between two countries is also reduce and eradicate the illegal employment of migrants, to enhance the current process, Rostrud is interested to work with IOM on the best international practices for the organized recruitment of foreign workers.

“IOM partnership with Rostrud is not only important for their ongoing projects on the organized recruitment of migrant workers but also for ensuring the employment rights of migrant workers are protected, since Rostrud’s main mandate is to protect labour rights and employment conditions of all workers including foreign nationals”, said Abdusattor Esoev.

IOM has expressed interest to partner with Rostrud in their current plan to develop a model employment contract for foreign citizens to expand the minimum requirements for employment contracts. Considering foreign workers are in more vulnerable situation in relations to employment and working conditions the parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in this area.