Migration continues to shape economic and social life in Uzbekistan, influencing labour mobility, remittance flows and regional connectivity across Central Asia. At the same time, the rapid growth of online recruitment channels, informal intermediaries and misleading migration-related content has increased the need for accessible, reliable and practical information for prospective migrants and their families.
During its first year of operations, the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Tashkent has developed into both a counselling point and a platform linking outreach, public communication, and stakeholder cooperation. Counselling trends show that many prospective migrants continue to rely on informal advice, online advertisements, and unverified recruitment channels before approaching official institutions, with frequent requests relating to job offer verification, recruitment procedures, visa requirements, and risks linked to fraudulent intermediaries.
The MRC in Uzbekistan operates in close cooperation with the Migration Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan and maintains regular coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Delegation of the European Union, Schengen Member State consulates, diplomatic missions, universities, civil society organisations and international partners. Together, these efforts support improved access to verified migration information, prevention of misinformation, reduced exposure to fraudulent recruitment practices and promotion of safer migration pathways.
As part of the regional activities marking the 10th anniversary of the Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) network, the MRC in Tashkent is expanding cooperation with universities, researchers and public stakeholders to strengthen informed migration decision-making and improve access to trusted migration information in Uzbekistan.
Anniversary activities began on 18 June 2026, when the MRC in Tashkent, together with Nordic International University and the Office of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, organised the country's first event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the MRC network. The event focused on raising awareness of safe migration among young people, risks of misinformation, and the prevention of fraudulent recruitment practices.
Continuing these anniversary activities, Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), its Centre for Policy Research and Outreach (CPRO), and the MRC in Tashkent organised a roundtable discussion titled “Migration and Mobility in Transition: Trends, Challenges and Policy Responses in Uzbekistan” on 30 June 2026 under the European Union-funded PROTECT project implemented by ICMPD.
The roundtable brought together universities, research institutions, public authorities, diplomatic stakeholders, civil society organisations, private employment agencies and migration practitioners. Discussions focused on labour mobility trends in Central Asia, migration governance, remittance flows and the experiences of Central Asian migrants in Asia and Europe, with particular attention to adaptation challenges, employment conditions and access to reliable information abroad.
The discussions reflected operational trends identified through MRC counselling and outreach activities, which show that migration-related decisions are often shaped by informal advice, online advertisements and social media before engagement with official institutions.
In its first year, the MRC in Tashkent expanded counselling, outreach, pre-departure orientation and awareness-raising activities across the Tashkent, Fergana, Samarkand and Andijan regions. University outreach reached more than 1,300 participants, while mahalla outreach engaged more than 1,100 participants. The Centre also strengthened cooperation with diplomatic stakeholders , civil society organisations, private employment agencies and international partners working on migration governance, labour mobility, and fraud prevention.
While the regional MRC network marks its 10th anniversary in 2026, the MRC in Uzbekistan will mark its first year of operations in August 2026. These milestones highlight both the regional experience of the network and the growing role of the MRC in Tashkent as a mechanism for counselling, outreach and stakeholder coordination.
By strengthening cooperation between research, policy and practical support actors, the MRC network continues to contribute to safer and more informed migration pathways across the Silk Routes region, connecting evidence, institutional cooperation and community engagement in support of informed migration decisions.
Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) Uzbekistan:
📍Tashkent, Uchtepa district, Kukcha Darvoza, 485
WhatsApp/ Telegram: +998 90 819 06 25
Follow us: www.instagram.com/mrc_uzbekistan | www.facebook.com/mrc_uzbekistan
