Media reports say Uzbekistan authorities have invited Uzbek nationals working abroad to return home to participate in the construction of New Tashkent.

Podrobno.uz reports that the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Moscow has invited compatriots working abroad to return home to participate in the construction of New Tashkent and earn decent wages.

The Embassy posted a joint video by the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services and the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan on its Telegram channel.

Job opportunities in New Tashkent

The video states that construction companies working on the New Tashkent project can offer jobs to around 10,000 Uzbek workers.  There is a high demand for specialists with experience as concrete workers, plasterers, plumbers, electricians, and bricklayers—in total, vacancies are available for 38 different professions.

Workers are promised free three meals a day, clothing, and accommodation in dormitories. The workday is eight hours, according to Fergana news agency.

The monthly salary will range from 8 million to 15 million Uzbek soums (approximately US$625–US$1,170).  For comparison, in 2024, the average monthly salary in Uzbekistan was 5.3 million soums (US$412).

Why are migrants returning?

In 2024, the outflow of labor migrants from Russia to Uzbekistan has increased due to stricter Russian migration policies and a ban on non-EAEU migrants working in certain sectors.

According to the Agency for External Labor Migration of Uzbekistan, over 115,000 labor migrants returned home over the first four months of 2024, including from Russia.  However, more than a million Uzbek migrants reportedly remain in Russia.

Government support for migrant workers

Since Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power in 2016, Uzbekistan has reportedly introduced measures to support citizens working abroad.

For those leaving the country through organized labor migration programs, the government offers partial compensation for:

• Work visa processing
• Foreign language and professional certification exams
• Travel expenses

Additionally, in the near future, returning migrants will have the opportunity to apply for mortgage loans to purchase housing in newly built residential areas in Uzbekistan.