Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan

As part of the official high-level visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Korea, Muxsinxo‘ja Abdurahmonov, Director of the Migration Agency, held negotiations with the heads of Korean companies operating in the construction and employment sectors.
 

In particular, a meeting with Sevon Kim, Founder and Executive Director of “Worksmate Inc.”, and Sidok Li, CEO of the employment company “Hyun Ju”, focused on expanding opportunities for Uzbek citizens in Korea’s labor market, increasing the effectiveness of cooperation within the E-9 program, and prospects for attracting qualified specialists under the E-7 visa.
 

E-9: expanding contacts with employers in the construction sector
 

The meeting noted that, within the framework of the existing EPS system between Uzbekistan and Korea, citizens are being organized for employment in the Republic of Korea under the E-9 work visa.
 

At the same time, attention was drawn to the need to intensify the selection process by Korean employers of candidates who have successfully passed the EPS-TOPIK examination in the construction sector.
 

The Migration Agency proposed expanding direct contacts with Korean construction companies and strengthening cooperation to familiarize employers more closely with the potential of Uzbek candidates.
 

In this regard, the capabilities of the GADA digital platform, operated by “Worksmate Inc.”, were presented.

“Worksmate Inc.” was established in 2020 and specializes in connecting employers and job seekers in the construction sector through digital technologies. According to the company, GADA cooperates with more than 1,500 construction companies in Korea. The platform enables the management of workers’ work experience and employment-related information, digital management of necessary documents, and the simplification of processes between employers and workers.
 

During the negotiations, the possibility of integrating the Migration Agency’s “Xorijda ish” electronic platform with the GADA platform was discussed. Such a mechanism could create additional opportunities to effectively connect construction specialists from Uzbekistan with employers in Korea.
 

Particular attention was paid to the protection of Uzbek citizens’ personal data. The Agency emphasized the need for strict compliance with the requirements of Uzbek legislation when processing and storing citizens’ data.

E-7: a promising pathway for skilled professionals

Another important topic of the meeting was the prospect of attracting qualified foreign specialists to Korea’s construction sector under the E-7 visa.
 

Representatives of “Worksmate Inc.” provided information about a planned project aimed at attracting qualified specialists for the construction sector from Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Thailand, with the participation of relevant Korean institutions.

According to the preliminary requirements presented, graduates of vocational education institutions would be required to have 5 years of work experience, while specialists with a bachelor’s degree would be required to have a diploma and at least 1 year of work experience. No work-experience requirement is envisaged for master’s degree graduates.
 

According to the information presented, the starting monthly salary may be 2,156,880 won, with the possibility of increasing as the specialist’s qualifications improve.
 

The Migration Agency proposed a model for the advance and targeted training of specialists in this area. Under the proposed model, opportunities are being considered to teach Korean to students at higher education institutions in Uzbekistan, develop their relevant professional qualifications, enable them to gain the necessary work experience at local construction companies, and subsequently direct specialists to employment opportunities that meet the requirements of Korea’s labor market.

This approach is aimed not simply at supplying labor to foreign labor markets, but at preparing competitive specialists with language skills, professional qualifications, and practical experience.
 

Letter of Intent on cooperation signed
 

Following the negotiations, the Migration Agency and “Worksmate Inc.” signed a Letter of Intent — LOI — to establish cooperation and jointly explore the areas discussed.
 

The management and working group of “Worksmate Inc.” were also invited to Uzbekistan to continue practical negotiations and gain a closer understanding of Uzbekistan’s workforce training system and the potential of specialists in the construction sector.
 

It should be noted that recruitment of citizens under the E-7 pathway has not yet begun. At present, the parties are discussing the possibilities and requirements for launching this mechanism in the future.
 

The main objective of the negotiations conducted by the Migration Agency is to expand the existing pathways for Uzbek citizens in Korea’s labor market, strengthen direct contacts with employers, and gradually increase opportunities for qualified specialists to access higher-income employment.