Seasonal work program is the subject of talks between Uzbekistan and U.S.

As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced at a recent foreign policy meeting, Uzbekistan will seek talks with the United States on allowing its citizens to work as seasonal laborers.
Also, the president’s press secretary noted that the U.S. government had simplified procedures last year for obtaining special visas for agricultural workers. As a result, Uzbekistan’s ambassador has initiated talks in Washington aimed at securing Uzbekistan’s inclusion on the U.S. list of countries whose citizens can be recruited for seasonal employment.
The aim of the initiative is to grant Uzbek citizens working abroad access to legal, well-paid jobs. So, regional governors got the requirement from the president to build direct ties with developed countries and regions that actively recruit foreign labor.
Ambassadors had also to identify high-income employment opportunities overseas. Citizens preparing for these roles should get vocational training and language instruction. The importance of signing bilateral labor migration agreements with countries including Japan, Sweden, Norway, Bulgaria, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Greece, and Oman was also mentioned.
Once again, the number of Uzbek citizens residing abroad illegally was the subject of the president’s concern. Last year, more than 150,000 Uzbek nationals benefited from migration amnesty in Russia. The president instructed officials to intensify negotiations with other countries to help citizens secure legal employment. From their side, migrants have to comply with local laws.
In general, consular staff has a key responsibility for supporting Uzbek labor migrants in countries with rising migration flows, particularly in Europe. According to Mirziyoyev, simpler registration procedures and fewer bureaucratic hurdles will help them do it.
As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, the U.S. State Department plans to suspend the issuance of immigrant visas for citizens of Uzbekistan and 74 other countries starting January 21. It will add urgency to Tashkent’s pursuit of alternative legal migration pathways.

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