Like anywhere else, migration in Uzbekistan is not an abstract issue. It is a reality that affects families, individuals and communities, while also playing a vital role in the country’s labour market and economy. This is why, when we talk about protecting migrants, we must also address the risks associated with irregular migration, labour exploitation, migrant smuggling, and human trafficking. These, too, are not abstract issues.
Through the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Tashkent, we see very concrete manifestations and patterns of these risks and challenges. Potential migrants come to the MRC with practical questions: “Is this job real?” “What documents do I need?” “What are my rights?” “Is this a real contract?” These questions may seem straightforward, but the answers can have serious consequences for a person’s migration journey and safety.
They also point to common gaps: not necessarily a complete absence of information, but uncertainty about where to find information that is reliable, accurate and up-to-date; dependence on informal intermediaries, confusion about legal procedures and frequent changes in migration laws, or language barriers. One growing concern is also misinformation from social media. More recently, there has been an increase in fake jobs advertised online, including on dubious websites and scam social media accounts. Importantly, these websites and social media accounts do not necessarily appear fraudulent or unreliable; they often seem credible and trustworthy to prospective migrants. We therefore cannot assume that migrants will always recognise a scam on their own.
Trust starts with counselling and outreach
Migrants also rely on their own informal networks, and often trust social media and messaging channels more than official sources. Information alone is therefore not enough: both its source and the way it is delivered and contextualised must be credible, accessible and trusted. Therefore, trust is at the heart of effective counselling. A Counsellor must not only have the right information, but also be able to explain it clearly, listen to the individuals, and respond to their specific circumstances.
Face-to-face counselling is particularly important because it creates space for questions, follow-up and an honest discussion of risks. It also helps the MRC build a long-term relationship with migrants and their families. When people feel they are being heard and the advice they receive is practical and relevant, they are more likely to seek [advice], return with further questions, and recommend a service to their peers.
At the same time, protection cannot depend only on migrants proactively approaching institutions themselves. An MRC cannot simply wait for people to come through its doors. It must go where migrants are, where the migrant-sending regions and remote communities are, universities and schools, job fairs, mahallas and other places where people make decisions about migration.
This is why outreach is not only another way of distributing information; rather, it is central to the MRC model. It allows counsellors to provide advice on the spot; understand the questions people are asking, and identify new risks as they emerge. Just as importantly, repeated engagement with communities helps build trust in the MRC as a place people can turn to before a risky decision is made.
Protection is a multi-actor system
Protection is not delivered by one institution, and it is not a single intervention. Protection is a multi-actor system. Governments shape policies and regulation, negotiate bilateral agreements and provide consular support. Employers and hiring agencies have a responsibility to ensure that recruitment and employment are safe, legal and ethical. International organisations provide technical support, pilot approaches and build institutional capacities. Civil society organisations provide direct assistance, legal aid, shelter, psycho-social support, and reintegration services. Universities, training institutions, local communities and the media also influence how migrants receive information and prepare for migration.
The challenge for migrants is that the system can appear fragmented, difficult to access and, at times, contradictory. A migrant should not need to understand the entire institutional architecture to know where to ask a question or seek help.
This is where the MRC plays an important connecting role. The MRC in Tashkent was established under the EU-funded PROTECT project in close cooperation with the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers. It is embedded within the national system and works with government institutions, private employment agencies, civil society, international organisations, universities, local communities and the media.
The MRC does not replace these actors; rather, it helps connect them with one another and, crucially, with migrants. Counsellors provide information directly where possible and refer migrants to specialised services when needed. In this way, the MRC translates protection frameworks into practical, accessible and coordinated support for migrants across the migration cycle.
Practical support across the migration cycle
Protection starts before a person leaves the country – often at the moment they begin considering a job offer or a migration opportunity. Already at this stage, individual and group counselling, awareness raising, and information on safe and legal migration options can prevent harm. Campaigns and outreach help migrants verify job offers, understand the documents they need and recognise the risks associated with irregular pathways and fraudulent recruitment.
Pre-departure orientation sessions (complemented by soft skills training) then helps migrants prepare for the reality of living and working abroad. They provide information on the rules and obligations in destination countries, employment conditions, rights and available support. A well-prepared migrant is better able to recognise abusive practices, respond when something is wrong and seek assistance when problems arise.
The effect of this preparation continues during migration. Knowing what should be included in a contract, which documents an employer may request, where to seek consular or other assistance and what rights apply does not eliminate every risk. It does, however, reduce vulnerability and give migrants a stronger basis for making decisions, and increase their awareness of their options.
Upon return, migrants may need referrals to services, reintegration support, counselling, skills development or information about employment opportunities. Returnees who plan to migrate again also bring different questions, shaped by their previous experiences. The MRC must be able to respond to these changing needs rather than assume that every migration journey is the same.
This need for adaptability is increasingly important. Migration laws and requirements change, destination countries become more or less attractive, economic and political landscapes (at home) shift, and fraudulent recruitment continues to evolve. Migrant support services must keep pace with these developments and ensure that the information provided remains accurate, up-to-date, and relevant.
Our experience in Uzbekistan and across the wider MRC network shows that protection systems work best when prevention, information, referrals and coordination function together. The value of an MRC lies not only in the individual services it provides, but also in the way it brings these elements together around the needs of migrants.
Ultimately, effective protection requires more than policies and frameworks. It requires functioning, interconnected systems that migrants can access and trust. Protection becomes meaningful only when it can be reached in practice – through counselling that responds to individual needs, outreach that brings services closer to communities, and coordinated support before departure, during migration and upon return.
About the author
Xenia Pilipenko is a Project Manager at ICMPD, managing the Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) in Central Asia that support migration governance and migrant protection; and contributing to complex, multi-country programmes across Eastern Europe, the Eastern Partnership and Central Asia, working closely with governments, international organisations, the European Union and civil society. With over 15 years of experience in migration governance, policy development, migration education and international cooperation, she has a strong background in project management and extensive knowledge of migration-related areas; including labour migration, migrant counselling and protection, diaspora engagement, the interdisciplinarity of migration, and media narratives on migration.