Uzbekistan & Belarus Hold Consular Talks on Labor Migration

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — With labor migration reshaping both economies, Uzbekistan and Belarus are overhauling the legal architecture governing how their citizens live and work across borders.

A fresh round of consular consultations between the foreign ministries of Uzbekistan and Belarus took place in Minsk, bringing together senior diplomats and migration officials to address regulatory gaps, strengthen citizen protections, and modernize the treaty framework underpinning one of Central Asia's most active migration corridors.

The Uzbek delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Olimjon Abdullayev; his Belarusian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Shestakov, headed the Minsk side. Notably, the talks extended well beyond the diplomatic tier — representatives from Uzbekistan's Migration Agency, Belarus's Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and the Department of Citizenship and Migration under Belarus's Interior Ministry all participated, signaling that this was a working session aimed at concrete operational outcomes rather than a ceremonial exchange.

Discussions covered the full spectrum of consular interaction: improving mechanisms for regulating migration flows, reviewing the bilateral legal and treaty base, and identifying practical measures to improve the management of migration processes. Particular focus was placed on creating favorable conditions for citizens of both countries and on expanding hands-on cooperation in the labor migration sphere.

The consultations reflect a structural reality: Uzbekistan, with a population of over 36 million and one of the youngest demographics in the former Soviet space, is a major exporter of labor. Belarus, facing its own demographic pressures and labor shortages, has become an increasingly significant destination. Managing that flow — protecting workers' rights, regularizing status, and streamlining consular services — has become a bilateral priority.

"The sides confirmed their interest in further developing cooperation on consular and migration issues of mutual concern," the official readout stated following the conclusion of talks.