As you know, at present, the regulation of external labor migration, elimination of its negative consequences is one of the most urgent challenges facing each country. Migration issues have become increasingly important, especially in the last decade, at the epicenter of regional and local conflicts, unemployment and poverty, which are of serious concern to the world community. According to the UN, currently over 250 million people around the world are involved in migration processes.

A number of positive steps have been taken in our country to ensure the rights of migrants. In order to regulate external labor migration, 10 normative legal acts were adopted. In particular, in September 2020, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan improved the activities of the competent authorities in the field of external labor migration, training of persons wishing to work abroad, protection of the rights of citizens abroad, as well as employment. In addition, regarding the returned labor migrants, it was decided to provide social support to their family members.

Also, within the framework of the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights, a draft law "On labor migration" was developed, aimed at solving migration issues affecting society, the state and human interests, ensuring the stability of relations in this area, introducing international standards in the field of migrants' rights.

There are a number of intergovernmental agreements between Uzbekistan and Russia on the regulation of labor migration, in particular, the priority is the organized recruitment and attraction of citizens of the republic for temporary employment on the territory of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the main emphasis is on promoting the employment and hiring of foreign employers for temporary work abroad on the basis of preliminary orders indicating working conditions and wages, social benefits and other important criteria.

To this end, an Uzbek-Russian working group has been working since 2017, headed by the labor ministers of the two countries. Speaking at the forum, the Russian side highly appreciated the reforms carried out in Uzbekistan under the leadership of the President to ensure the rights of labor migrants, and as a result of cooperation between the countries during the pandemic, organized employment of Uzbek citizens in Russia.

The Uzbek side noted that, within the framework of large-scale reforms of public administration and the development of international cooperation, Uzbekistan's attitude to migration, reforms in the field of protecting the rights of migrants and cooperation between Uzbek and Russian Ombudsmen has radically changed.

The international forum discussed current trends in the field of labor migration and the further development of Uzbek-Russian cooperation, migration management and protection of migrants, as well as proposals for further improving the mechanism for ensuring the rights of labor migrants. The parties also expressed their readiness for close cooperation in the field of migration.

 The Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman)