Uzbekistan plans to employ 250 thousand citizens who returned from abroad by the end of the year

According to the authorities of Uzbekistan, since the beginning of 2026, 1.116 million citizens who previously worked abroad have returned to the country. The government plans to provide employment for 250,000 of these returnees by the end of the current year.

This was announced by the presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov at a meeting held on November 2 under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Among those who returned are specialists who gained professional experience in Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, and Russia. They worked in the fields of industry, construction, logistics, services, and agriculture.

The President noted that citizens employed in large foreign companies have acquired knowledge of modern technologies and new methods of production management. These skills can be useful to Uzbek enterprises.

In this regard, regional governors and heads of industry departments were instructed to identify suitable vacancies for returning migrants and assist them in applying their professional experience in the country's economy.

To improve employment efforts, the creation of a specialized information platform is planned. It will collect data on citizens' previous places of work abroad, their professions, qualifications, and work experience.

It is expected that this platform will be integrated with the information system used by regional governors and industry authorities. This will allow employers to take into account each citizen's professional background when recruiting for local enterprises.

Separate support measures are also provided for citizens interested in starting their own businesses; they will receive consulting assistance and support in creating conditions for entrepreneurial activity.

However, the presidential press secretary's statement did not specify how many of the 1.116 million returning migrants have already found jobs and how many are still looking for one.

Earlier, at the end of September, Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction Botir Zakhidov reported to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis that 661,000 migrant workers returned to Uzbekistan in the first half of 2026. According to the minister, 557,000 of them started engaging in income-generating activities.

The minister also presented plans to provide employment for another 70,000 returning citizens, taking into account their preferences. Nevertheless, the figure of 557,000 covers various forms of income generation and does not mean that all these citizens have secured permanent jobs under official employment contracts.

Over the nine-month period of 2026, the Migration Agency provided support to citizens of Uzbekistan, helping them recover $850 thousand that was unpaid abroad, as well as compensating for other amounts. Furthermore, the agency facilitated the return of 532 passports and identity documents that were held by intermediaries and employers.

Geographical Scope of Appeals

The largest number of appeals concerning unpaid wages and compensation came from Russia—a total of 533 cases. A significant number of appeals were also registered in Turkey (155 cases) and South Korea (92 cases); the remaining 37 cases were recorded in other countries.

Document Recovery

A separate issue addressed by the agency was the illegal retention of documents by workers and intermediaries. Thanks to the agency's efforts, 532 citizens were able to retrieve their passports and identity documents. 331 such cases were recorded in Russia, 185 in Turkey, 11 in Kazakhstan, and five in South Korea.

Citizens can report any problems related to employment, wages, or documents outside the country by calling the short number 1282 or contacting the Telegram bot @huquqiy_yordam_uzbot. Applications are accepted 24/7.

Previously, the Migration Agency signed an agreement with a major American recruiting firm. This agreement provides for the organization of training and subsequent employment of Uzbek citizens to participate in seasonal agricultural work in the United States under the H-2A program.