Mirziyoyev Orders Modernization of Uzbekistan’s Labor Migration System

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 18 November, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on efforts to improve the external labor migration system and the organization of migration processes in line with international standards.

The presentation highlighted that systematic measures to ensure organized overseas employment have diversified the labor market, with citizens primarily taking high-paying positions abroad. Although the number of labor migrants has decreased compared to 2016, remittances grew from $3.8 billion to $15.8 billion over the first ten months of 2025.

The report emphasized strong international demand for skilled specialists. Currently, there are orders for 140,000 workers, but significant work remains to train personnel with the necessary language and professional skills. Fragmented migration services also create inconveniences for citizens.

To address these issues, the government plans to standardize services under a “one-stop shop” principle. Key initiatives include:

Establishing a “Center for Preparation for Overseas Employment” in the Uchtepa district of Tashkent;

Opening a unified migration service center in Termez;

Launching German and Japanese language schools in Yashnabad district in partnership with international companies.

Special focus is being given to increasing migration flows to European countries, which have quadrupled in recent years, and strengthening legal protection for citizens. Several European countries still lack labor migration agreements with Uzbekistan, and the President instructed accelerated development of intergovernmental arrangements.

Additional measures include expanding the number of labor migration attachés and overseas representations of the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, opening mobile visa service offices across regions, and further digitization of migration services. The “Khorijda Ish” platform currently offers 25 services, used by 524,000 citizens since the start of the year, although not all services are yet available online.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the introduction of artificial intelligence, biometric identification, real-time vacancy monitoring abroad, and remote citizen consultations. A situational center at the Migration Agency will provide 24/7 operational support.

Efforts to combat illegal migration and fraud in consulting services will be strengthened. Airports will feature interactive labor migration information kiosks, fines for unlicensed organizations will increase, and potential criminal liability for facilitating illegal migration is under consideration.

The President approved the proposed measures and issued additional instructions to enhance convenience, safety, and transparency in labor migration processes, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive approach to protecting the interests of Uzbek citizens abroad.