The Uzbek leadership has reportedly ordered a comprehensive overhaul of its organized labor migration policies, pushing for better preparation of citizens for high-paying positions abroad. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inspected a language and vocational training center in Tashkent and subsequently chaired a high-level meeting dedicated to addressing perceived shortcomings in the country's employment migration framework.

During the discussions, it was claimed that while the global labor market offers vast opportunities and the network of foreign partners has expanded to some 27 countries with nearly 400 major employers, local authorities, regional governors, and educational heads are supposedly failing to fully capitalize on these channels. Officials were criticized for not doing enough to bridge the gap between domestic job seekers and foreign labor demand.

Statistics highlighted during the meeting showed that over the past decade, the number of Uzbek citizens working abroad has halved, while remittances quadrupled—a trend authorities attribute to a shift toward skilled rather than unskilled labor. However, regional disparities in migrant earnings remain stark, varying widely from higher averages in regions like Fergana to much lower figures in Karakalpakstan and other areas, pointing to uneven regional implementation.

Furthermore, the European and British vectors of migration cooperation came under scrutiny. It is alleged that existing agreements concerning skilled employment in sectors such as healthcare, logistics, and industry—particularly in the UK and Italy—remain underutilized, with workers frequently relegated to seasonal agricultural jobs. Authorities also urged better alignment of language-certified youth with job markets in North America and Europe.

Source: podrobno.uz