CAPACITY BUILDING, INFORMATION AND
AWARENESS RAISING TOWARDS PROMOTING
ORDERLY MIGRATION IN THE WESTERN
BALKANS
PRO JE C T N E W SL E T TE R N o .4 J UL Y 20 0 9
• National Training
on Labour Migra- National Training on Labour Migration Policy and Practice in Croatia
tion Policy and and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Practice in Croatia
and the former Two of the planned seven national-level
Yugoslav Republic training courses on labour migration policy
of Macedonia and practice, organized by IOM in coopera-
• Migrant Service tion with ILO, have been carried out in Croa-
Centres Reach Out tia in May 2009 and the former Yugoslav
to Students and Republic of Macedonia in June 2009.
Other Potential
Users
The course curriculum targets policy makers
• Selected Statistics from Ministries of Labour, Interior, Foreign
on the Users of Affairs, social partners such as trade unions
MSCs (March — and employers’ organizations, as well as Opening session in Skopje
May 2009) non-governmental organizations active in
• Statistics of the the migration field. It is based on the OSCE- govina, Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 and Al-
Project Website IOM-ILO Handbook on Establishing Effective bania.
Labour Migration Policies in Countries of
• National Training Origin and Destination and constitutes an The training sessions are delivered by IOM
on Labour Migra- integral part of the project “Capacity Build- and ILO senior migration specialists. Addi-
tion Policy and
Practice Training ing, Information and Awareness Raising to- tional modules were provided by local and
Calendar wards Promoting Orderly Migration in the international experts, including the German
Western Balkans”. Federal Employment Service, University of
Zagreb, Croatian Employment Service, Croa-
The national training events are a follow-up tian Ministry of Interior, the Platform for
to the Regional Workshop on Establishing International Cooperation on Undocu-
Labour Migration Policies in Countries of mented Migrants (PICUM) and the Macedo-
Origin and Destination and International nian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
Collaboration in the Western Balkans held
The events were inaugurated by govern-
in Tirana, Albania on 9-10 February 2009.
ment representatives from the ministries of
Further training events are planned to fol-
interior and labour and national employ-
low in Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia & Herze-
ment services, as well as IOM and ILO. ■
Participants in the Zagreb training
Project Newsletter No. 4
Migrant Service Centres
Reach Out to Students and Other Potential Users
Since March 2009, IOM missions and project partner
national employment services in participating
countries have intensified the information and
outreach campaign to inform possible users about
services offered by the Migrant Service Centres
network and in many cases, to reach those persons,
who would otherwise be unable to access the MSCs.
In Kosovo, several presentations were organized for
students (Prizren, Peja universities), where issues of
applications for scholarships abroad, student seasonal
work and student visas were discussed. Intensive
campaign among students was also carried out in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, where presentations were
held at the Mostar and Banja Luka Universities. Students at the University of Banja Luka, BiH
Website links were set up on the portal of the Student
Parliament at Banja Luka University, Laktasi In Serbia, IOM staff together with the National
municipality (aimed at local youth) and a student Employment Service (NES) promoted the MSC at the
association from Tuzla. In Albania, information “Career Days” job fairs in Belgrade and Nis as well as
sessions were held for students of Tirana University/ the music festival EXIT. MSC services were also
Political Science Faculty and Luigj Gurakurqi University promoted at job fairs in Croatia, Kosovo, and
in Shkodra. Montenegro.
In Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Migrant
Service Centres have received coverage in a number of
important daily newspapers: Shqip and Panorama in
Albania and Nezavisne Novine, Fokus and Blic in Bosnia
and Herzegovina.
In all project locations, an intensive media campaign
takes place with newspaper advertising, video and
radio jingles and TV and radio interviews given by IOM
and MSC staff. ■
Presentation for students of the Prizren University in Kosovo
In Montenegro, experiences of the MSC Podgorica
were shared with the audience of an event organized
by the American Corner on Challenges of Regular
Migration as well as during numerous TV talk shows.
Sharing experience of MSC in Podgorica, Montenegro
Capacity Building, Information and Awareness Raising Towards
Page 2 Promoting Orderly Migration In the Western Balkans
Project Newsletter No. 4
Selected Statistics on the Users of MSCs
(March – May 2009 )
The total number of clients visiting the Mi-
grant Service Centres during the fourth quar-
ter of their operation (March – May 2009)
was 1591, with the total number of visits
totalling 1609. The majority of the clients
were nationals, with significant proportion
of queries coming from immigrants to these
countries (16.5%, 12% increase from last
period).
The highest number of visitors was
registered in the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, Albania and Serbia.
62% of clients were men, on average in their early
and middle twenties. The majority of
clients came from urban areas (94%).
Unemployed constituted a large proportion of MSC
clients (62%). A multitude of employment sectors was
represented such as accounting and finance, health-
care and construction. 24% of the visitors had previ-
ous experiences of migration, which is slightly less in
comparison with the he previous reporting period
(Dec 2008 – Feb 2009).
Of those with the previous migration experience, the
majority were labour migrants (49%).
Majority of the clients were interested in
labour migration, declaring Canada, Aus-
tralia and EU in general as their preferred
destinations.
The total of 264 immigrants approached
MSCs during the reporting period. Immi-
grant visitors were registered in Albania,
Montenegro and Croatia. Majority of im-
migrant visitors were work permit holders
(85%) and refugees (4%). 34% had higher
education, 44% collage-level education
degree and 21 % secondary education. ■
For the full statistical report, go to: www.migrantservicecentres.org
Page 3
Statistics of the Project Website
Since the project's beginning, the project's website www.migrantservicecentres.org has attracted
many visitors, with recent months showing a substantial increase in the number of visits. Below
you will find some statistics:
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
Apr- May- Jun- Jul- Aug- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar- Apr- May- Jun-
08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 09 09 09 09 09 09
Unique Visitors Number of visits
National Training on Labour Migration Policy and Practice
Training Calendar
Croatia 25-29 May 2009
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 22-26 June 2009
Montenegro 28 Sept– 2 Oct 2009
Serbia 19-23 October 2009
Bosnia & Herzegovina 26-30 October 2009
Kosovo (under UNSCR No 1244) 2-6 November 2009
Albania 9-13 November 2009
For further information on the project, please visit the website: www.migrantservicecentres.org.