Labor Migration - The Times Of Central Asia

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Labor Migration

Germany Pledges to Review Visa Obstacles Facing Skilled Workers From Uzbekistan

Germany has pledged to examine visa-related difficulties faced by Uzbekistani specialists and consider measures to address them, according to Uzbekistan’s Dunyo news agency. The commitment was announced during a meeting at the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce and Industry focused on organized and safe recruitment of workers from Uzbekistan for the German labor market. The event was chaired by Dr. Jürgen Ratzinger, the chamber’s managing director for international business, and brought together representatives of German institutions and executives from WISAG, one of Germany’s largest service companies. Uzbekistan's delegation included Gulnara Salimova, honorary representative of Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency in Germany, and Vice Consul Bekzod Abdullayev. During the talks, Uzbek officials outlined efforts to prepare workers for employment in Germany. These measures include vocational training programs tailored to the needs of the German labor market, language instruction, and initiatives designed to support legal and organized labor migration. Participants also discussed challenges faced by Uzbekistani specialists during the visa application process. According to Dunyo, German representatives acknowledged that visa processing for qualified Uzbekistani workers often takes considerable time and said they would study systemic issues and consider possible solutions. The discussions come as Germany continues to face labor shortages in several sectors and seeks qualified foreign workers. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, has increased efforts to create legal pathways for employment abroad through government-supported migration programs. The meeting also follows a recent investigation by German authorities into an alleged visa fraud and migrant smuggling network involving citizens of Uzbekistan. Earlier this month, Germany’s Federal Police carried out searches at seven locations in the states of Hesse and Lower Saxony as part of an investigation led by prosecutors in Bavaria. The case concerns suspected commercial smuggling of foreign nationals, unauthorized residence, visa fraud, and document forgery. The investigation began after federal police inspected a citizen of Uzbekistan traveling on a long-distance bus shortly after he entered Germany through a Bavarian border crossing. Officials at the Frankfurt meeting highlighted the importance of ensuring that labor migration takes place through transparent, legal, and secure channels while improving opportunities for qualified professionals from Uzbekistan seeking work in Germany.

U.S. Crime

Uzbekistan’s Consulate Urges Citizens to Follow U.S. Law After Cargo Theft Arrests

The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in New York has urged citizens of Uzbekistan in the United States to follow local laws after recent media reports linked several citizens of Uzbekistan and people of Uzbek origin to criminal investigations. In a statement posted on Telegram, the consulate said reports about alleged offenses involving citizens of Uzbekistan or people of Uzbek origin had appeared increasingly in the media and on social networks. The statement did not refer to a specific case, but it came shortly after U.S. authorities announced charges against an alleged multi-state cargo theft ring. The consulate called on citizens of Uzbekistan living, studying, working, or doing business in the U.S. to respect local laws, customs, and accepted standards of public behavior. “Any violation of the law carries personal responsibility,” the statement said, adding that unlawful actions by a small number of people can affect perceptions of the broader Uzbek community abroad. The consulate said most members of that community are law-abiding, work honestly, study, run businesses, and represent Uzbekistan with dignity. The diplomatic mission noted that the issue is particularly important during major international events and sports competitions, when public and media attention toward Uzbekistan and its citizens increases. The statement was issued as U.S. law enforcement agencies continued investigating a group accused of stealing nearly $5 million worth of commercial cargo. According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, eight defendants were indicted in connection with a scheme that allegedly targeted shipments in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey before the stolen goods were diverted to New York. Prosecutors allege the group operated between October 2025 and April 2026 and impersonated legitimate shipping carriers to obtain cargo from logistics sites. The stolen goods allegedly included lamb, cheese, beef, copper, and cigarettes. According to prosecutors, the defendants used fraudulently obtained shipment information from real carriers and brokers, leased trucks, and used false carrier identities to collect cargo. The stolen goods were then transported into and through New York City for sale on the black market. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said the alleged thefts included $165,000 worth of lamb, $432,000 worth of cheese, $295,000 worth of beef, more than $266,000 worth of copper, and more than $3.3 million worth of cigarettes. The New York Post reported that Murodullo “Murad” Khasanov, whom prosecutors identified as the alleged leader of the group, was arrested in New York and pleaded not guilty. The newspaper said prosecutors sought $1.5 million bail. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the alleged theft ring affected businesses and consumers and raised concerns about the use of online hacking in large-scale cargo theft. Prosecutors said the investigation remains ongoing. The consulate said it remains ready, within its authority, to provide citizens with consular and legal assistance. At the same time, it urged citizens to act responsibly and avoid behavior that could lead to legal consequences or harm the reputation of Uzbekistan and its citizens abroad. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Uzbekistan has also sought to expand...

Tajik migrants

Tajik Migrant in Russia Receives Nearly $15,000 in Unpaid Wages After Government Intervention

A Tajik labor migrant working in Russia has received nearly $15,000 in unpaid wages following an intervention by Tajikistan’s Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment, the ministry said. According to the ministry’s representative office in Russia, the worker approached officials in May, alleging that a private Russian company had failed to pay his salary. The office then contacted the employer, which later settled the debt in full. The worker received 1.065 million rubles, or about $14,800, according to the ministry. The company was not named. The ministry urged Tajik citizens seeking employment in Russia to sign formal labor contracts and retain copies of the documents, saying the absence of written agreements often complicates efforts to recover unpaid wages and protect workers’ rights. Officials said migrants can also seek assistance from the ministry’s representative office in Russia on employment issues and labor disputes. Labor migration remains one of Tajikistan’s main sources of household income, with remittances sent home by migrants, most of them employed in Russia, supporting many families across the country. World Bank estimates show that remittance inflows reached 49% of Tajikistan’s GDP in 2024, up from 39% a year earlier. Tajik labor officials have said almost all citizens who leave Tajikistan for work go to Russia, making wage disputes there a direct concern for household income at home. The ministry said its representative office has previously helped Tajik migrants recover more than $3.4 million in unpaid wages from employers in Russia. In cases where employment relationships are not formally documented, the authorities often have to pursue claims through the courts, although most such cases are resolved in favor of workers, according to the ministry.

EAEU

As Armenia Looks West, Could Uzbekistan Move Closer to the EAEU?

Armenia’s increasingly uncertain future within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) appears to have entered a new phase. On May 29, the presidents of Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan issued a joint statement calling on Yerevan to clarify whether it intends to pursue deeper integration with the European Union or remain committed to the Eurasian bloc. The four leaders announced that members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council would present a report at the next meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in December 2026 outlining the possible consequences of suspending Armenia’s participation in the EAEU treaty framework. “We share the view that the Republic of Armenia should, within the shortest possible timeframe, hold a nationwide referendum on joining the European Union or continuing its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union,” the statement said. Speaking to journalists after the summit in Astana, Russian President Vladimir Putin drew parallels between Armenia’s current trajectory and the developments that preceded the crisis in Ukraine. “I have mentioned this before: the crisis in Ukraine began with attempts to join the EU,” Putin said. He added that significant differences between European and EAEU standards, particularly in agriculture and industry, make simultaneous participation in both integration projects difficult. “Combining the two is practically impossible,” Putin said. “Therefore, we would be forced to curtail much of our economic integration work with Armenia.” The following day, Russia recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations amid Yerevan’s growing engagement with the European Union. According to Russian political analyst Arkady Dubnov, the move was a clear diplomatic signal of Moscow’s dissatisfaction with the pro-European course pursued by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and indicated a downgrading of bilateral relations. Dubnov also argued that Armenia’s representative at the Astana summit, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, avoided harsher criticism from Putin partly because of the position taken by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. “Kazakhstan itself signed an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union in 2020,” Dubnov noted, suggesting that arguments about Armenia’s European integration harming the EAEU are largely political rather than economic in nature. One recent poll appears to reinforce confidence within Armenia’s ruling camp. A survey conducted ahead of parliamentary elections indicates that Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party could secure nearly 65% of decided voters, positioning it for a convincing victory and a substantial parliamentary majority. Against that backdrop, Moscow’s pressure on Yerevan may be less about influencing the outcome of Armenia’s elections than about preparing for a longer-term strategic realignment. Supporters of Pashinyan increasingly associate his political project with closer ties to Europe, a perception reinforced not only by European leaders but also by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently expressed support for Pashinyan’s re-election campaign. For his part, Pashinyan appears focused on a broader regional recalibration. Speaking via Facebook Live on May 31, he emphasized the importance of normalizing relations with neighboring states. “I am convinced that we will achieve the goal of normalizing relations with Azerbaijan and Türkiye,” he said. “This means that a balanced and balancing...

Labor Migration

Kazakhstan Prepares New Visa System for Migrant Workers and Investors

Kazakhstan is preparing to introduce a differentiated visa system for foreign workers and investors as authorities seek to attract highly skilled specialists while tightening oversight of labor migration. The new migration model was presented by Yerbol Tuyakbayev, first vice minister of labor and social protection during a roundtable discussion at the Center for Labor Resources Development. According to Tuyakbayev, the government plans to divide foreign nationals coming to Kazakhstan for work into four categories: business immigrants, highly qualified specialists, mid-level skilled workers, and labor migrants hired by private households for domestic work. “Each category will have a separate visa regime based on the purpose of entry, qualification level, and duration of stay,” Tuyakbayev said. A central element of the reform will be the possibility of transitioning from a temporary work or investment visa to long-term resident status. According to officials, holders of such status would gain access to a range of rights and services similar to those available to citizens of Kazakhstan, including tax incentives, financial services, healthcare, and education. Authorities also plan to simplify administrative procedures for foreigners, reduce application processing times, and introduce a “single-window” system. As part of the reform, Kazakhstan plans to launch the QazETA digital platform, which will include an e-Residency module and a separate e-Residency Invest program. The new system will also include the Altyn Visa, or “Golden Visa,” program, aimed at investors, entrepreneurs, and highly qualified specialists. The government expects the initiative to become one of the key tools of Kazakhstan’s new migration policy and to help retain both international talent and investment capital. The Altyn Visa program is expected to launch before the end of 2026. Experts say Kazakhstan is attempting to strengthen its position in the competition for global talent amid worldwide shortages of qualified labor and growing migration mobility across Eurasia. Anna Alshanskaya, head of economic policy analysis at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, said the country has the potential to take a “proactive position” as a regional hub for attracting specialists. The initiative has also received support from the International Organization for Migration. Aliya Belonosova, acting head of the organization’s mission in Kazakhstan, said the new system would create additional opportunities not only for attracting international specialists and investment, but also for preparing Kazakhstan’s youth for the labor market of the future. The migration reform comes amid growing demand for foreign labor in Kazakhstan. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Chinese citizens currently make up the largest group of migrant workers in the country.

Labor Migration

Center for Legal and Safe Labor Migration Opens in Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan’s second Resource Center for Migrants opened in the capital, Bishkek, on May 22. The new center is intended to expand citizens’ access to reliable information on safe, organized, and legal labor migration, as well as raise public awareness of the risks of illegal migration, human trafficking, and other forms of exploitation. The center was established under the EU-funded PROTECT project, a regional initiative implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Migrant resource centers are intended to serve as first points of contact for people considering employment abroad, particularly those who may otherwise rely on informal recruiters or unverified online information. Such centers typically provide advice on legal migration pathways, employment procedures, documentation, workers’ rights, and the risks associated with irregular migration. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration, the Resource Center in Bishkek will conduct outreach activities, organize pre-departure orientation sessions for potential migrants, providing training on safe labor migration. The first Resource Center for Migrants in Kyrgyzstan opened in Osh, the country’s second-largest city, in March 2024. Since then, the center has provided assistance to more than 21,000 people through consultations, information events, and job fairs. The opening of the Bishkek center comes as labor migration continues to play a major role in Kyrgyzstan’s economy. Remittances help support household incomes, particularly in regions where local employment opportunities remain limited. However, dependence on foreign labor markets also leaves migrants vulnerable to rule changes, currency fluctuations, and exploitation by intermediaries. In 2025, remittances to Kyrgyzstan totaled $3.49 billion, according to the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic. The vast majority, $3.29 billion, came from the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), while $198 million came from countries outside the CIS. Kyrgyzstan is working to diversify its labor migration destinations. Russia has long been the main destination for Kyrgyz labor migrants, although Bishkek has sought in recent years to expand legal employment channels to other countries, including Turkey, South Korea, Japan, and several European countries.