President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a dedicated high-level meeting on labor migration, emphasizing the urgent need to regulate the employment status of foreign nationals residing in the country long-term. According to official reports, as economic development makes the nation increasingly attractive, the number of foreigners living in Uzbekistan for extended periods is approaching 250,000.

During the session, it was revealed that out of the total foreign population, only 36,000 hold official work permits, while another 24,000 are students. The president insisted that state agencies must possess accurate data regarding the activities and sources of income of the remaining foreign residents. Concerns were raised over widespread informal employment and the failure of foreign workers to properly declare their earnings and tax contributions.

Pointing to discrepancies, the president questioned why a vast majority of foreign workers officially report a monthly salary of just 2 million soms, openly criticizing the oversight of tax authorities. Calculations suggest that bringing these activities out of the shadow economy could generate an additional 1.5 trillion soms for the state budget. Furthermore, statistics show that 80 percent of work-permit holders are concentrated in low-skilled sectors such as construction, building materials production, and services.

Mirziyoyev noted that protecting the domestic labor market is a standard practice utilized by developed nations, urging authorities to prioritize employment opportunities for Uzbekistani citizens. While reiterating that the nation remains committed to an open-door policy for foreigners, the president stressed that strict discipline and regulatory oversight must be maintained across all sectors.

In response to these challenges, the head of state instructed responsible government agencies to launch a comprehensive monitoring platform within one month. This digital system is designed to track the residential and employment locations of long-term foreign visitors, ensuring complete transparency regarding their sources of income and legal status.

Source: www.gazeta.uz