Uzbekistan expands external labor migration program

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed a package of proposals aimed at systematically organizing external labor migration, improving citizens’ qualifications, and strengthening their legal and social protection abroad. The initiatives are presented as part of a broader strategy for the orderly entry of the workforce into foreign labor markets.

According to the data presented, citizens of Uzbekistan are currently working in nearly 40 countries, with the total number of labor migrants reaching 1.2 million people.

Amid a growing labor shortage in developed countries of Europe and East Asia, demand for qualified specialists is increasing. An additional driver is the European Commission’s migration strategy until 2030, which provides for expanded cooperation programs with Central Asian countries.

It is separately noted that foreign employers have currently submitted orders for more than 100,000 specialists. In particular, Germany has expressed a need for 40,000 nurses, while Japan requires 15,000 workers in construction, logistics, and service sectors.

A key element of workforce preparation has been joint educational programs implemented on the basis of vocational colleges with the participation of companies from Germany, the Republic of Korea, and Japan. Within 12 ongoing “profession plus language” projects, 8,500 people are currently being trained, of whom around 3,000 have already been employed abroad. Authorities plan to expand the number of such programs to 20, increasing coverage by more than 50 percent and bringing the total number of participants to over 10,000.

A specialized training center is planned to be established in Tashkent, designed to teach 12 in-demand professions and 7 foreign languages, as well as conduct examinations for 6 types of international certificates. The facility will include a campus for 600 students.

In parallel, nursing training courses will be organized in medical colleges in Andijan, Samarkand, Fergana, and Tashkent to prepare candidates for international certification in line with language and professional standards. Training centers for construction specialists, including concrete workers, welders, rebar workers, and formwork installers, are also planned to be expanded.

Another direction is the creation of unified migration centers and regional hubs, including driver training programs. Authorities also plan to expand seasonal employment through 12 new international agreements in the agricultural and tourism sectors with the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and the Republic of Korea.

Under financial mechanisms, it is proposed to compensate citizens for 50 percent of foreign language learning costs and fully cover expenses for professional examinations. Additionally, a system of incentives for foreign employers and recruitment companies hiring Uzbek citizens is under consideration.

Special attention is given to digitalization processes. Further development of the “Work Abroad” platform is planned, including the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies to simplify procedures and increase transparency.

The President emphasized that the Migration Agency should not only manage external labor flows but also contribute to providing the domestic labor market with qualified personnel.

According to the presentation, a support system for Uzbek citizens abroad has already been organized in 37 countries. In recent years, 48,000 people received social assistance, 17,000 received legal support, and 6,000 received material assistance.

At the same time, the need for continuous monitoring of working and living conditions of migrants was emphasized.

Separate measures are being considered to regulate the employment of foreign citizens and stateless persons within the country, including strengthened interagency coordination and steps to formalize informal employment.

The head of state approved the proposed initiatives and instructed their implementation in line with modern requirements, including the widespread introduction of digital solutions in labor migration management.