President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced at a meeting on November 2nd plans to fully transfer the functions of directing citizens to work abroad to the most reliable private employment agencies starting in Uzbekistan in 2027.
According to the president, over the past two years, thanks to the simplification of licensing procedures for private employment agencies, their number has tripled, and the number of citizens who found jobs abroad through such structures has increased fivefold.
Nevertheless, Mirziyoyev emphasized that problems have arisen in this area, including cases of fraud and corruption among citizens. Previously, a special law was adopted to eliminate these shortcomings, regulating the activities of private employment agencies.
According to the stated intentions, by 2027, all functions for employing citizens abroad will be fully delegated to the most reliable private agencies. To encourage their work, a payment of 1.5 million soms is provided for each person successfully employed in a high-paying position.
In addition, private agencies are planned to be provided with free rent of part of technical school premises for professional and language training of citizens. It is also proposed to introduce a social tax rate of 1% for teachers and experts invited from abroad, and equipment necessary for training will be exempted from customs duties.
The activities of these agencies must be conducted within a transparent system that includes a rating system. The main parameters for evaluation will be the actual employment of citizens, ensuring their rights, the level of salary received, and the availability of guaranteed social protection.
The President instructed that a draft resolution detailing the further reform of the work of private employment agencies be submitted within a month. The possibility of recognizing this activity as a social service with subsequent simplification of the tax regime is also being considered.
It has not yet been determined how the powers will be divided between private agencies and the state Migration Agency after the proposed transfer of functions.
In Uzbekistan, the activities of private employment agencies are regulated by a law adopted on October 16, 2018. These organizations are obliged to have the corresponding license to provide employment services abroad.
A new law was adopted in November 2025, which tightened requirements for these agencies and expanded their competencies. In particular, they were allowed to conduct language and professional courses, as well as cooperate with foreign employers.
To increase client protection, additional financial guarantees were introduced: private agencies are now required to place a deposit of 4000 basic calculation units in a special bank account, the funds of which can be used to compensate citizens for damages.
In October 2026, the Migration Agency published the results of the assessment of private employment agencies for the third quarter. Out of 47 inspected organizations, 40 received an unsatisfactory rating, four received a satisfactory rating, and three received a good rating; none reached the 'exemplary' category.
The assessment was carried out based on 11 different indicators, including employment results, contract registration, preparation of citizens for travel, compliance with legal norms, and the number of complaints received.
The rating system has been operating since 2025, but the Migration Agency emphasized that the rating only reflects the results for a specific period and does not serve as confirmation of a license or a guarantee of service quality.
Previously, on October 12, the leadership of the Migration Agency met with representatives of private agencies to discuss citizen complaints regarding delays in service provision, non-fulfillment of contract terms, and difficulties with fund refunds in case of unsuccessful employment. The agency demanded that all contracts and employment data be registered in the Xorijda ish system, that deposit guarantees be provided, and that citizens be adequately prepared for departure.
