Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia agree to establish working group to enhance cooperation in labor migration

Yesterday, a meeting was held in Riyadh between a delegation of Uzbekistan led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Olimjon Abdullaev and Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sharqi Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia.

According to the MFA, during the talks, the sides discussed strengthening cooperation in the areas of legal labor migration, vocational training, labor inspection, as well as coordination of issues in this field.

The meeting also considered the introduction, starting from January 2026, of a new platform by the “Takamul” company in Saudi Arabia aimed at digitalizing the process of recruiting foreign workers, as well as the possibility of implementing this platform in Uzbekistan. It was noted that through this system, citizens of Uzbekistan would have the opportunity to conclude employment contracts directly with employers.

In addition, an agreement was reached on integrating the “Qiwa” platform, implemented in Saudi Arabia, into vocational training centers in Uzbekistan, as well as on developing joint programs aimed at improving workers’ qualifications.

The parties agreed to establish a working group with a view to systematically developing cooperation in the field of labor migration. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Uzbek delegation was invited to participate in the international forum “Global Labor Market Conference,” which will be held in Riyadh on 29–30 January 2026.