Croatia, Uzbekistan Sign Labor Market Cooperation Deal
Construction firms will gain access to a new government-vetted pipeline of trained workers from Uzbekistan.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Jobs — General
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Uzbekistan and Croatia have signed a bilateral labor market agreement to formalize the recruitment of workers between the two nations. The deal includes a pilot program expected to place between 50 and 100 construction specialists.
Why it matters
The framework establishes a government-backed channel for securing labor, aiming to address worker shortages through pre-verified, trained candidates. For construction operators in Croatia, this provides a new, legally vetted pipeline for specialized personnel.
The agreement initiates a pilot program for 50-100 construction specialists compared to broader, unspecified future expansion goals. Officials are still determining the full scale of recruitment beyond this initial cohort.
The players
Uzbekistan Migration Agency
The state authority responsible for facilitating the organized, legal movement of workers abroad.
The details
The program utilizes a government-to-government mechanism that tasks the Uzbekistan Migration Agency with vetting and training candidates. Workers will undergo targeted vocational and language instruction before deployment to ensure they meet the specific operational requirements of Croatian firms.
Timeline
15 October 2026: Uzbekistan and Croatia signed the bilateral labor cooperation agreement in Zagreb.
Market Landscape
This agreement follows the standard model for bilateral labor cooperation agreements designed to formalize cross-border employment pipelines. It mirrors regional efforts to bridge labor gaps by centralizing the vetting and training process for international hires.
Operators in the construction sector should monitor the upcoming recruitment pilot for potential access to vetted, trained technical staff. Firms facing chronic skill shortages should evaluate whether their staffing needs align with the vocational profiles the program intends to supply.
The takeaway
This government-to-government model shifts the burden of initial vetting and language preparation to the state agencies rather than the hiring firm. Companies looking to participate should track future updates from the Uzbekistan Migration Agency regarding candidate eligibility criteria.
Further reading
For more on evolving workforce strategies, visit Jobs — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by UzDaily.
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