Authorities in Uzbekistan reportedly plan to fully delegate the functions of sending citizens for employment abroad to the most reliable private employment agencies by the year 2027. These intentions were allegedly announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a meeting on November 2. According to official claims, over the past two years following the simplification of licensing procedures, the number of private agencies has tripled, while the number of citizens securing jobs abroad has supposedly increased fivefold.

At the same time, the administration acknowledged persistent systemic flaws, corruption risks, and numerous instances of citizens being defrauded within the sector. Despite previously adopted regulations intended to curb these abuses, further structural overhauls are deemed necessary. Under the proposed framework, agencies will reportedly receive 1.5 million soms for every individual successfully placed in a high-paying job.

To facilitate professional and language training, the authorities plan to provide private entities with free leases on parts of vocational school buildings, alongside setting a preferential 1 percent social tax rate for foreign experts and exempting educational equipment from customs duties. However, transparency concerns remain pressing, especially given that a recent assessment by the Migration Agency rated 40 out of 47 evaluated private agencies as unsatisfactory, with zero organizations achieving an exemplary status.

The president has reportedly instructed officials to submit a draft resolution within one month to further reform private employment activities and simplify taxation. Nevertheless, critics and observers note that the exact demarcation of responsibilities between private operators and the state Migration Agency following the transfer of functions remains ambiguous.

Source: www.gazeta.uz