Latvia opts against labor quotas for workers from Uzbekistan, keeps doors open for labor migrants

A delegation from Uzbekistan's Migration Agency recently visited Latvia for discussions with Latvian Minister of Welfare Uldis Augulis. The talks resulted in an agreement that Latvia would not impose quotas on labor migrants from Uzbekistan. In addition, an agreement was signed with the logistics company Kreiss to hire Uzbek truck drivers.

The Latvian officials praised the contributions of Uzbek workers, noting their growing presence in the country, with numbers already surpassing 4,000.

The authorities also assured that labor migrants would receive state protection, and their legal employment and social rights would be guaranteed.

An agreement was signed with the logistics company Kreiss to hire 400 Uzbek truck drivers in 2025. To ensure the drivers meet international standards, training centers will be established in Uzbekistan for their preparation.

Currently, Kreiss employs 3,000 people, including a group of Uzbek drivers.

Kreiss is one of the leaders in the European freight transport sector. In 2024, the company completed 215,000 international trips, and its fleet consists of 1,500 trucks.

Meanwhile, Lithuania has introduced a strict quota for hiring unskilled foreign workers, effective January 1, 2025. The authorities explained this measure by the surge in the number of migrants from Central Asia, which has increased 14-fold since 2021, as well as a lack of resources to properly screen them.

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