Technical issues and alleged third-party interference halt UK seasonal work program for Uzbeks

Details of the program

On December 28, 2024, the Migration Agency, under the Cabinet of Ministers, announced registration dates for seasonal jobs in England. Registration opened online via the agency's platform, xorijdaish.uz, on January 10, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tashkent time.

Applicants were informed that registration did not guarantee further participation in the selection process, which would be conducted entirely by HOPS. The Migration Agency’s role was limited to organizing the departure of selected applicants to England.

Technical difficulties on registration day

Registration officially began at 3:00 PM on January 10, but technical issues arose due to heavy traffic, with over 2 million simultaneous users accessing the platform. The registration period was extended by two hours, closing at 9:00 PM instead of the original 7:00 PM deadline.

Two days later, on January 12, the agency announced that 12,331 applicants had successfully registered for the seasonal job program.

Online testing for the selection process was scheduled by HOPS for January 14-15, 2025. Selected candidates were to receive test details via email. The agency warned applicants to check their email diligently, emphasizing that failure to receive a test invitation would mean disqualification.

Unexpected cancellation

On January 15, the Migration Agency announced that HOPS had unilaterally decided to nullify the registration results.

“This decision was made solely by HOPS Labour Solutions, and the Migration Agency lacks the authority to alter it. For further inquiries or concerns, please contact HOPS at hello@hopsls.com or complaints@hopsls.com in English or Russian,” stated the agency.

HOPS statement

HOPS Labour Solutions issued a statement explaining that the cancellation was due to “reliable reports of third-party interference” in the registration process.

“Dear applicants, due to numerous credible reports of third-party interference during the January 10 registration process, HOPS has been compelled to postpone the recruitment phase in Uzbekistan. We understand this is disappointing for those who registered, but we are committed to ensuring the integrity and transparency of the recruitment process.

If you have evidence of third parties collecting payments for placements in the UK’s seasonal worker scheme and wish to assist with our ongoing investigation, please contact us at complaints@hopsls.com,” the statement read.

HOPS also clarified that it would not respond to general inquiries about the matter.

Migration Agency’s response

During a press briefing on January 17, the Migration Agency addressed the issue further. Deputy Director Matlab Kuronov revealed that nearly 3 million Uzbeks had attempted to register, leading to technical challenges.

“This project was established over the past two years in cooperation with the UK employer and has been entirely legal. While we extended the registration period from four to six hours due to technical issues, the high volume of applications—triple last year’s—resulted in some limitations,” Kuronov stated.

He added that the agency is working to enhance the platform to accommodate increasing demand and ensure equal opportunities for all applicants. The initial selection results were nullified to allow for a fair and transparent process, with plans to reopen the registration later.

According to Migration Agency official Azimjon Khosanov, the program’s popularity stems from its lack of requirements for specific skills or English proficiency, leading many families to apply collectively.

Deputy Director Kuronov reassured applicants that the registration process for seasonal jobs in England would reopen at a later date.