The Uzbek government will pay labor migrants leaving abroad compensation for visa processing, buying plane tickets, and taking qualification exams for the host country's language. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the decree on April 4, 2024.
The document establishes a special Agency for External Labor Migration in Uzbekistan, along with a department within the Cabinet of Ministers. Attachés for labor migration affairs will be appointed in the country's embassies in the UK, UAE, Hungary, Germany, Latvia, Poland, and Japan.
Compensation for visa processing up to $134 will be given to those who register in the special electronic system "Xorijda ish." Participants will also be reimbursed up to $79 for foreign language and professional skills exams (upon successful completion) and up to $53 for ticket costs.
Insurance companies will receive subsidies for life and health insurance for those migrant workers and their families recognized as low-income officially.
The decree also covers payment for legal services for citizens facing violence, discrimination, or forced labor abroad.
A 24/7 toll-free Call Center will be established to assist labor migrants. A mobile application for migrants to report their host country, job vacancies, communicate with compatriots, and make money transfers is planned by July 1, 2025. An electronic database for travelers in and out of Uzbekistan will also be operational by that date.
These unprecedented incentives aim to encourage migrants to legalize their status and interact freely with Uzbek authorities. In contrast, Turkmenistan's policies push migrants towards illegal channels due to bureaucratic hurdles and lack of financial support.
Turkmen diplomats provide minimal assistance to citizens in distress and often do not renew passports promptly, forcing many to resort to illegal status. Despite Turkmenistan's efforts to restrict migration, people continue to leave due to poor working conditions and low wages.
Recent trends show Turkmen migrants favoring Poland over Turkey and Russia due to currency devaluation. Turkmen cafes are emerging in Poland, and some are involved in smuggling migrants through Belarus into the EU.
Maximizing migrant legalization is a wise move for Turkmenistan to emulate from Uzbekistan. While not compensating for migration costs, removing obstacles would benefit both countries in the long run.
