Friday 28 November 2003

Press Briefing Notes
Friday 28 November 2003
Spokesperson: Christopher Lom

1. ECUADOR - Video Link Used to Select Migrant Workers
2. MOLDOVA- New Counter-Trafficking Campaign Launched
3. ROMANIA - EU Labour Migration Initiative

ECUADOR - Video Link Used to Select Migrant Workers - IOM Quito is using a video link to select labour migrants who have applied to join a Spanish and Ecuadorian government-backed scheme to work in Spain.

From November 24 through December 5, Spanish employers will interview candidates via a videoconferencing system for a variety of positions. They include jobs as cooks, waiters, construction workers, electricians, tailors, sales people and domestic helpers. During the 12- day recruitment session 557 people will be interviewed for a total of 175 positions.

Under the programme, which was launched in the autumn of 2002, 1,086 Ecuadorians have been selected and are already working in Spain. With this latest selection process, the total number of people selected for employment will reach 1,261.

All selected candidates receive a one-year contract with the possibility of extension and benefit from all social security benefits. After the first extension of their contracts, the migrants can have their spouse and minor children join them in Spain.

The programme was initiated in May 2001, when both governments signed a labour migration agreement. IOM's work began with an information campaign to inform potential labour migrants of the opportunity to work in Spain.

The second step was the registration of the applicants, followed by the verification of documents and diplomas, the creation of a database of names, participation in the selection process, and arranging travel for the selected candidates. The IOM database currently contains details of 22,236 applicants.

For more information, please contact Guillermo Bluske at IOM Quito. Email: gbluske@utstm.gov.ec. Tel: 593.22.444 928.

MOLDOVA - New Counter-Trafficking Information Campaign Launched - IOM Chisinau has launched a new information campaign to warn people of the pitfalls of irregular migration and the associated risk of becoming a victim of human traffickers.

The US$ 100,000 US-funded campaign was officially launched this week with the screening of "Lilya 4-Ever", an acclaimed drama directed by Swedish filmmaker Lukas Moodyson. It tells the story of a poverty- stricken teenage girl who is trafficked for sexual exploitation from her native Russia to Sweden.

"This is a movie about a young girl who wanted to find a better life. Every man, woman and teenager in Moldova should watch it to understand the harsh realities that lie behind human trafficking," says IOM Chief of Mission in Moldova, Marielle Sander-Lindstrom.

"Lilya 4-Ever" is an integral part of the IOM campaign, which targets more than 100,000 women and girls in the 16 to 24 age group. From the end of January, the film will be shown throughout Moldova - first in Chisinau, then in cinemas, community cultural centers and schools throughout the country.

The film will also be shown on Moldovan TV and will promote a 0-800-77777 telephone hotline, which is permanently manned by the NGO La Strada and offers unbiased information on the dangers of trafficking and on how not to fall prey to traffickers.

The campaign is designed to support efforts by the Moldovan authorities to introduce and implement legislation to clamp down on the activities of human traffickers in the former Soviet republic.

This year in Moldova four people have been convicted of human trafficking crimes and received jail sentences of up to 15 years. A further 24 have been convicted of pimping. In 2002 four people were convicted of trafficking and a further 20 for pimping.

In addition to awareness raising activities, IOM Chisinau has also provided reintegration assistance to more than 1,100 victims of trafficking in Moldova over the past two years.

ROMANIA - EU Labour Migration Initiative - IOM is implementing a Belgian-funded nationwide information campaign to discourage irregular migration from Romania to the European Union and to encourage people to use legal channels.

The campaign, which mainly targets Romanian men aged 15-44 in urban areas who earn around EUR 100 a month, follows a recently- completed IOM-commissioned survey showing widespread interest in temporary migration to the EU for work.

Some 15% of survey respondents expressed a wish to travel abroad for work, while 4% said that they wanted to leave the country permanently. Over 50% of those interviewed who had worked abroad had gone to Italy, Germany or Spain. The research showed that these were still the preferred EU destinations for Romanian labour migrants.

Respondents said that factors influencing their decision to work abroad would include the type of job offered, social connections in the country concerned, the cost of getting there, their grasp of the language and documentation.

Some 41% thought that finding a contract-based job was the most important prerequisite. Only 11% thought that obtaining a work permit was important.

The IOM information campaign, which began in November, includes a public service announcement broadcast on three national radio stations, reaching over 2.6 million Romanians.

In December 1.5 million information cards will be distributed to Romanian travellers as they leave country. IOM and NGO partners will also distribute 15,000 brochures and 10,000 posters, as well as other promotional materials.