A New Phase of Cooperation with Croatia: Employer Requests, Construction Teams and a Pilot Project for Up to 200 Specialists
2026-10-24 17:00:00 / News
Director of the Migration Agency Muhsinxo‘ja Abdurahmonov met with Refik Šabanović, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Uzbekistan, resident in Astana.
The meeting focused on translating the agreements reached during the Agency delegation’s recent visit to Croatia into concrete employment opportunities and practical joint projects.
The parties discussed a pilot programme for 100–200 citizens of Uzbekistan. The proposed process includes preliminary online screening based on specific requests from Croatian employers, vocational and language training in Uzbekistan, and a final selection stage.
Particular attention was paid to recruiting construction teams from Uzbekistan. Major Croatian companies expressed interest in engaging teams specialising in electrical installation, façade work, finishing and other construction activities for periods ranging from 20 days to several months. The Croatian side expressed its readiness to provide accommodation and work permits.
The parties also discussed opening a representative office of the Migration Agency in Zagreb. The office is expected to provide legal and social support to citizens of Uzbekistan working in Croatia, as well as in Slovenia and Serbia.
Discussions on targeted training for the Croatian labour market covered the designation of educational institutions in Uzbekistan, the involvement of Croatian language teachers, and the preparation of specialists in line with employers’ requirements.
To strengthen social protection, the parties proposed exploring arrangements for pension and social insurance contributions paid by citizens while working in Croatia to be recognised in Uzbekistan.
Approximately 5,500 citizens of Uzbekistan currently work in Croatia. The Ambassador noted that employers value their professional skills, work ethic and ability to adapt to local conditions.
In particular, around 40 citizens of Uzbekistan are employed by the construction company Radnik d.d., which has expressed interest in recruiting additional specialists.
The meeting also addressed plans to hold a business forum in Uzbekistan in late November with the participation of 10–30 Croatian companies, alongside opportunities to expand cooperation in tourism, healthcare, services and seasonal employment.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties agreed to intensify joint efforts to obtain specific recruitment requests from employers, launch the pilot project and advance the practical implementation of the agreements reached.