Speaking at a meeting on labor migration, Mirziyoyev said the number of licensed private employment agencies had tripled over the past two years following the simplification of licensing procedures. The number of citizens placed in jobs abroad through these agencies had increased fivefold over the same period.
He acknowledged, however, that the sector had also seen misconduct, corruption and cases of fraud against job seekers. A separate law regulating private employment agencies was adopted to address these problems.
Under the plans announced at the meeting, the most reliable agencies would take over all functions related to arranging employment for Uzbek citizens abroad from 2027.
The proposed incentives include a payment of UZS 1.5 million for each person successfully placed in a high-paying job. Agencies would also be allowed to rent some premises at technical colleges free of charge to provide vocational and language training for prospective migrant workers.
The government is considering a social tax rate of 1% for teachers and experts recruited from abroad. Equipment needed for training would also be exempt from customs duties.
The agencies would operate through a transparent system with a performance-based ranking. The main assessment criteria would include the actual placement of workers, protection of their rights, access to higher wages and guaranteed social security.
Mirziyoyev instructed officials to submit a draft resolution on further reforming the sector within a month. He also proposed treating the activities of private employment agencies as a social service and simplifying their tax arrangements accordingly.
It remains unclear how responsibilities would be divided between private agencies and the state Migration Agency once the proposed transfer takes effect.
