New law aims to regulate labor migration amid wave of consultant fraud

Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee has issued a warning regarding consulting companies that claim to help citizens secure employment or educational opportunities abroad.

Since the beginning of the year alone, the regulatory body has received around 20 complaints from individuals who reported being defrauded by consultants. In these cases, clients paid for assistance with job placements or studying overseas, but the promised services were never rendered and no refunds were issued.

For example, a citizen identified as A.B. paid over 16 million UZS to Konsalting N1 B2B, a Tashkent-based company, for help in securing employment in Latvia. Similarly, Vivat Viz from Kokand received $2,000 from a Fergana resident, Sh.M., for visa processing and paperwork for work in Latvia.

Another individual, O.Kh. from the Yangiyul district, transferred 36 million UZS to Black Mountain Pro, located in the Yakkasaray district of the capital, in hopes of finding employment in Germany. The services were not provided, and the company has since ceased operations.

Under the current law “On Private Employment Agencies,” companies may only provide overseas employment services if they hold an official license. However, many firms operate without proper authorization, violating legal requirements.

These companies often gain the trust of clients through social media, collecting payments with promises of overseas job placements but ultimately failing to fulfill those commitments. The Competition Committee identified the following firms as operating in such a manner:

•  Diamond Ideal

•  Work and Study Abroad

•  SJ Team

•  Consulting Fly

•  Asia Consult Edugately

•  Euro Asia Consulting Centre

•  Exlusive Assistant

•  Doch Consult

•  Global Consulting Effort

•  Poland Business Support and Viza

The Migration Agency fined two firms - Everyone Consult and Worldviza - 300 BCU (112.5 million UZS) for violations related to overseas job placement services. Additional measures have also been taken against Rich Result, Ravon Consult Group, and Adworld Group.

The Committee urged citizens not to trust “intermediary” companies without verifying their legal standing and licenses via the official “License” portal. It also advised clients to thoroughly review the terms of any contract before making payments.

On June 17, the Legislative Chamber passed a draft law in its first reading that aims to regulate labor migration. Among other provisions, it proposes allowing employment agencies to charge Uzbek citizens seeking work abroad and easing financial reserve requirements for such firms.