Citizens of Uzbekistan to Resume Work in South Korea under the E-8 Seasonal Employment Program

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A delegation led by Behzod Musaev, Director of the Agency for Migration under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held talks with Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Province of the Republic of Korea.

During the meeting, the parties agreed to recruit seasonal workers from among residents of the Tashkent region under the E-8 visa category. The workers will be employed in the agricultural sector of the Hapcheon, Cheongnyeong and Miryang districts for eight months (under a 5+3 scheme).

A bilateral cooperation agreement was signed between the Agency for Migration and the administration of Gyeongsangnam-do Province, outlining the procedure for attracting seasonal labor for agricultural needs.

The document represents a practical implementation of earlier agreements reached between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea on resuming the participation of Uzbek citizens in the seasonal employment program under the E-8 visa.

In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, the agreement clearly defines the regions responsible for sending and receiving workers. In this case, recruitment will be carried out among residents of the Tashkent region.

The agreement follows the visit of the Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do to the Tashkent region from 23 to 25 September, during which a memorandum of friendship was signed between the two regions.

At the initial pilot stage, applications for labor recruitment will be formed from three districts of Gyeongsangnam-do Province. Starting in 2026, depending on the discipline and performance of Uzbek workers, cooperation is expected to expand to other regions.

Uzbekistan became the first country to send seasonal workers to Korea under the E-8 visa in 2021, when 420 citizens took part in the pilot project. The program was temporarily suspended after some workers failed to return home upon completion of their contracts.

Following years of negotiations, the Government of the Republic of Korea has decided to resume the program, giving Uzbek citizens the opportunity to once again participate in seasonal work. The authorities urge workers to strictly comply with the terms of their employment contracts and the legislation of the Republic of Korea, and to return to their home country upon completion of the work period.

The parties also agreed that applications from employers and candidates wishing to participate in the program will open in November–December this year. Information about the start of recruitment will be published on the official Telegram channel of the Agency for Migration — XORIJDA ISH.