Information hub

Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) is the repository of information. MRC work as a one-stop information hub and provide up-to-date information to the prospective or returnee migrants to make their migration journey safe and peaceful. From our Baghdad office in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, we provide information and answer all the queries of the walk-in clients.

MRC also act on different methods to disseminate migration related information to the people. As part of our regular work we:

  • raise awareness among people and conduct community education using effective tools and strategies such as awareness meetings in different cities of Iraq
  • conduct orientation sessions at the national level as well as at different educational and training institute
  • observe and conduct special events on national holidays and occasion
  • use hotlines, mobile applications and social media platform to maximise outreach
  • engage with radio, print and electronic media to spread migration information
  • develop and circulate information, education and communication materials to deliver migration related messages.

Counselling

Counselling and guidance is one of the core services offered at the MRC. We counsel free-of-charge and strictly confidential

We follow a tailor-made approach while giving counselling; just appropriate to the clients' needs. As a result, our counselling types vary, such as: legal, career, psychological and social counselling.

In MRC you can receive information on:

  • the processes and procedures involved in all stages of the migration cycle,
  • employment or education abroad,
  • rights and duties of migrants in destination countries,
  • socio-cultural norms and labour laws of destination countries,
  • verification of overseas employment promoters, government fees and the role of various institutions in the migration cycle,
  • available reintegration services upon your return,
  • rights and duties as a migrant foreign worker in Iraq.

Providing intending migrants with an opportunity to consult our counsellors will not only enable them to make an informed decision, but also contributes to raising awareness on the issues of safe migration, irregular migration, migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

Orientation sessions

MRC go to different places to make people aware about the safe migration. We arrange orientation sessions for prospective migrants, professionals, students. We introduce people to the different cycles of migration, safe and regular ways to migrate abroad. Our orientation sessions emphasize the benefits of regular migration and aware people on the danger and bad consequences that are involved in irregular migration. These sessions help the participants to know about services that are available to make their migration journey comfortable and peaceful.

We conduct this orientation session at our office premises and as well as at different organizations' locations. MRC also recognise the importance of technical and vocational training institutions in promoting skilled migration. We have designed free of cost orientation classes for students at technical and vocational institutions, colleges and professional universities. These classes cover safe migration, the current migration trends and social and economic benefits of migration. MRC counsellor’s visit technical institutions, colleges and universities to hold awareness session on a regular basis.

Our orientation session is unique, as we do not only rely on verbal presentation but also use multimedia support to deliver our messages. We have developed so many information, education, and communication materials that we disseminate in the orientation session to make learning of the participant’s concrete and long lasting.

Referral service

MRC act as referral platform or structure for other needs and services needed by migrants and their families such as:

  • access to government programmes and services
  • compliance with requirements for migrants during the pre-departure, on-site or return and reintegration cycles
  • case management

Migrants have different needs that could be served by different organizations. We try to assess the prospective and returnee migrants’ needs and send them to the appropriate institute to avail the desired services.

Information for foreign worker in Iraq

Post-arrival assistance to foreign workers coming to Iraq, providing them with information on their right and obligations in the country.

Foreign workers in Iraq can obtain information on:

  • available healthcare facilities,
  • housing,
  • education,
  • social protection,
  • basic services,
  • safe and dignified return

Reintegration assistance

One of the specialised services of the MRC is reintegration assistance. The Reintegration Information Desk (MRC-RID) in MRC functions as the central point of contact for returnees, who wish to obtain information on reintegration services, including professional and skills’ training sessions, job placement, financial aid, psychological support, family counselling, etc.

The MRC-RID in its mandate cooperates with all governmental entities at national, governorate, and local levels and works with a broad network of service providers; including national and international stakeholders, to support returnees to rebuild their lives and gain access to livelihoods in Iraq.

As a returned in MRC you can obtain:

  • Clear information on the existing reintegration services and available support structures.
  • Accessible and understandable information on the migration cycle associated with return and reintegration process.
  • Referrals to services related to the reintegration process, such as general assistance for reintegration in Iraq, technical/vocational training, issuance of missing documentation.

The MRC monitors and regularly evaluates the questions it receives and adjust its counselling work accordingly.