Uzbekistan and Japan: A New Stage of Strategic Cooperation in Labor Migration

Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan in the field of labor migration has significantly expanded in recent years, becoming one of the key pillars of the broader strategic partnership. What began in 2019 with the signing of initial legal frameworks has evolved by 2025 into a comprehensive system that includes professional training, Japanese-language education, digital platforms, employer partnerships, and large-scale employment programs.

2019–2020: Building the Legal Foundation

The partnership’s foundation was laid on 15 January 2019 with the signing of a Memorandum between Uzbekistan's Ministry of Employment and Japan’s Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Health, Labor and Welfare. Later that year, on 17 December 2019, a crucial agreement on the implementation of Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program was signed, opening the way for structured and legal employment of Uzbek citizens in Japan.

In January 2020, an intergovernmental cooperation agreement formalized Uzbekistan’s participation in the SSW system. The same year, the TOKUTEI GINOU Testing Center for Japanese language and professional skills was established in Tashkent.

2021–2025: Workforce Demand and Investment in Human Capital

Between 2021 and 2025, Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency signed more than 20 agreements with Japanese companies and cooperatives, including Kobe International Trade Promotion Association, Techtas Kyodo Kumiai, Tokai Builders Support Cooperative, Shimizu Corporation, JPC Corporation, and Proud Partners, among others.

These agreements expanded employment opportunities in construction, manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, automotive services, and other in-demand sectors in Japan.

Japan’s Interest in Uzbekistan’s Human Resources

High-level visits in 2022 and 2025 boosted cooperation even further. On 21 January 2025, the Migration Agency and JICA launched the Japan Career Portal — the first JICA project of its kind in Central Asia, supporting the development of skilled human resources for Japan’s labor market.

The platform provides:

• job listings,
• online tests,
• Japanese-language training,
• direct communication with employers.

Major Initiative: Employment of 10,000 Uzbek Specialists

One of the largest projects was launched in 2025 through a memorandum with the Japan-China-Asia Medical Educational Cultural Exchange Association (JCAEMCE):

 A five-year program to employ 10,000 Uzbek specialists in Japan.

The project includes the opening of training centers – “Light of Japanese Mastery” – in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Namangan, which will provide six-month Japanese-language and professional training for at least 3,000 candidates annually.

“Study + Work” Model Expands

Several Japanese companies have opened training centers in Uzbekistan:

• Onodera User Run – training in five specialties with free Japanese-language and vocational instruction
• Proud Partners – training for drivers, construction workers, hotel and restaurant staff

The centers include modern classrooms, skill laboratories, and dormitories with full amenities.

Growing Recognition of Uzbek Workers

Japanese companies increasingly recognize the strengths of Uzbek workers, describing them as:

• disciplined
• hardworking
• law-abiding
• quick to adapt

Several Japanese prefecture governors, including Yuji Kuroiwa of Kanagawa, expressed readiness to further expand cooperation.

Challenges and Solutions

Key issues identified:

• insufficient Japanese-language proficiency
• long visa processing times (4–6 months)
• activities of illegal intermediaries
• low legal awareness among migrants

To address these, both sides agreed to:

• accelerate visa procedures through digitalization
• exchange information between migration agencies
• expand testing centers within Uzbekistan
• strengthen public awareness campaigns

Conclusion

Uzbekistan–Japan labor migration cooperation has grown from basic memoranda to a full-scale human capital development model. Major initiatives — including training centers, digital platforms, and the 10,000-worker program — are establishing a new, sustainable system of skills development and fair labor mobility.

This partnership not only provides employment opportunities but also facilitates knowledge exchange, professional growth, and technological progress, shaping a strong foundation for long-term bilateral cooperation.