Tashkent and Tokyo have signed a significant labor agreement that will enable 10,000 Uzbek citizens to work legally in Japan over the next five years.

The agreement was finalized between the Uzbekistan Migration Agency and the Japan-China-Asia Medical Educational Cultural Exchange (JCAEMCE) organization during a recent Uzbek delegation visit to Tokyo, Fergana news agency reported on June 3.

Under the new program, prospective workers will undergo training in the Japanese language and workplace etiquette, followed by exams to qualify for employment.

Specialized courses called Yapon Mahorat Nuri will be launched in Tashkent, as well as in the Samarkand and Namangan regions to prepare candidates.

Additionally, starting this June, an online platform named WiseBridge will provide job seekers with direct access to vacancies and enable communication with Japanese employers, streamlining the hiring process.

Discussions during the visit also covered the simplification of visa procedures, digitization of migration processes, and faster issuance of entry permits.  Both countries emphasized legal protection for Uzbek workers in Japan and cooperation to combat illegal migration.

Japan’s Minister of Justice, Keisuke Suzuki, highlighted that the technical internship program combined with the simplified visa system will offer Uzbek workers safe, legal employment opportunities and valuable experience in a highly developed work environment.

The foundation for this cooperation dates back to 2017 when plans were first discussed to invite around 1,000 Uzbek nurses to Japan.  

In 2019, Japan’s Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, Takumi Nemoto, visited Tashkent and affirmed Uzbekistan’s potential as a source country for skilled labor, thanks to recent migration law reforms.

This landmark agreement marks a new chapter in labor cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan, offering new avenues for Uzbek citizens to gain international work experience while meeting Japan’s workforce needs.