A labor program touted by authorities as promising has sparked discontent among its first participants. 255 residents of the Andijan region who traveled to Belarus's Vitebsk region for work have recorded a video appeal asking to be returned to Uzbekistan.

The migrants claim that the dormitory living conditions are unsatisfactory and do not match what was promised. Their monthly salary is around $500, with expenses for food and daily needs borne by themselves, leaving only about $200.

The workers argue that such earnings are not worth staying abroad and have appealed to the governor of the Andijan region, Shukhrat Abdurakhmanov, for help in organizing their return.

The Migration Agency stated that the situation is under control. Representatives of the agency and the Andijan regional administration are in Belarus studying the relationship between employers and labor migrants.

If the employer violates the terms of the labor contract, migrants will be offered work with another employer. The agency expects to resolve the issue by the end of the day.

Additionally, Uzbek investors are reportedly creating farms in Belarus, where fellow citizens may be employed with an average salary of $900–$1,000 per month.

The program originally planned to employ about 5,000 more Uzbek citizens in the future.

Source: podrobno.uz