Uzbekistan is preparing a comprehensive reform of its overseas labor migration system. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed an updated model for managing citizen departures, recruitment, and protection abroad, reports Gazeta.uz.
The initiative focuses on improving migrant skills, digitizing services, and adopting international standards. The primary goal is to make labor migration safer, more transparent, and more beneficial for citizens.
In recent years, the government has significantly improved the organization of overseas employment, expanding the range of available jobs. More Uzbeks are now choosing structured, higher-paid positions in Europe, South Korea, Japan, and Gulf countries rather than seasonal, low-skilled work.
Although the total number of citizens working abroad has decreased compared to 2016, remittances have nearly quadrupled — from $3.8 billion to $15.8 billion in the first ten months of 2025. This growth is driven by more skilled job opportunities and better migrant training.
Demand for Uzbek specialists remains high on the international labor market. Orders have already been placed for 140,000 workers, although some candidates still do not meet language or professional skill requirements.
The current migration service system has been deemed inconvenient, as citizens must approach multiple agencies to process documents. The president has called for a “one-stop” approach to unify all processes and make services more user-friendly.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 19, 2025