A meeting was held at the multimedia press center of the International Information Agency 'Sputnik Uzbekistan' dedicated to improving systems for the organized recruitment of citizens to work in the Russian Federation. Elyor Toshtemirov, Deputy Director of the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, answered questions from press representatives.
Elyor Toshtemirov emphasized that the Russian Federation remains one of the key markets for labor migration, where approximately 900 thousand Uzbek citizens are currently employed based on patents. He noted the critical importance of creating safe and comfortable conditions for these citizens in Russia. A recent meeting took place with representatives of the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation in Tashkent, where issues regarding the proper organization of the organized recruitment mechanism were discussed.
According to general statistics over the last decade, the number of people working abroad has been halved—from 2.7 million to 1.3–1.4 million people. This decrease is attributed to several factors: an increase in domestic job opportunities, the seasonal nature of travel, and the diversification of external labor markets.
Uzbekistan is demonstrating a shift from unregulated to targeted and skilled migration. In various regions of the republic, with the participation of foreign partners, more than 30 specialized training courses for in-demand specialties are operating. Examples include training programs for welders and oil and gas specialists in Navoi, Bukhara, and Kokand. These courses last from three to nine months, and the salary of qualified workers at sites in Russia can exceed $2000.
Active interaction is currently underway with the Agency for Professional Education under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. There are over 700 technical colleges in the country. Uzbekistan offers large Russian enterprises the opportunity to create additional specialized training courses for needed specialists. Recently, a welder training center was launched in Navoi, where Russian experts and teachers conduct two-month classes. After completing the training, graduates are employed in well-paid jobs in the northern regions of Russia. Furthermore, the Bukhara Oil and Gas College trains oil and gas industry specialists, and by the end of the current year, a joint program for training drillers and drilling assistants will be launched at the Kokand Oil and Gas College with the participation of Russian colleagues.
The Migration Agency closely interacts with Russian agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the MFC 'Sakharovo' representation in Tashkent, to simplify procedures for citizens even before they depart. Among the planned mechanisms for implementation in Uzbekistan is checking for entry bans into the Russian Federation through the representations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the passport and visa service, which will prevent surprises at Russian airports. Medical examination is also planned based on cooperation with South Korea.
For language and history knowledge testing, a RUDN representation is already operating at the Yashnabad District Vocational Training Center in Tashkent, which has increased the testing capacity to one hundred people daily. By the end of the year, similar venues are planned to be opened in Jizzakh (in collaboration with KFU), Andijan, and Tashkent (in collaboration with Herzen State Pedagogical University).
Currently, the Migration Agency cooperates with more than 200 Russian employers within the framework of the organized recruitment system. This format guarantees that the worker is informed in advance about the working conditions, salary amount, and is assigned to a specific employer who is responsible for their safety.
Elyor Toshtemirov specified that a new migration concept of the Russian Federation has been approved, making organized recruitment one of the priority directions for attracting foreign labor. Starting from the new year, special state enterprises responsible for this process will be established in the Russian Federation. Targeted personnel training will be conducted upon request from Russian employers before deployment. The citizen will know in advance where they are going, under what conditions, and for how much they will work. The employer will bear direct responsibility for the safety and fate of each specialist.
In conclusion, the management of the Migration Agency strongly advises citizens to strictly follow the migration legislation of the host country. Since the Register of Controlled Persons (RKL) has been introduced in the Russian Federation, any violations, such as overdue patents, advance payments, or migration registration, can cause serious difficulties. For legally employed citizens, a special fund of the Agency provides comprehensive support, including legal and medical assistance and temporary accommodation. The main guarantees for safe employment remain preliminary vocational training, language knowledge, and proper documentation.