South Korea considers E-7 visa recruitment for skilled construction workers from Uzbekistan
South Korea is weighing the recruitment of skilled construction workers from Uzbekistan under E-7 visas, with a proposed starting monthly wage of KRW 2,156,880, or about $1,560.
Mukhsinkhodja Abdurakhmanov, head of Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency, spoke about ways to broaden job opportunities for Uzbek citizens in South Korea during discussions with representatives of construction recruitment firms. The meeting was attended by Worksmate founder Kim Se-won and Hyun Ju head Lee Si-deok.
At present, Uzbek workers are dispatched to South Korea through the Employment Permit System (EPS) on E-9 work visas. During the talks, the participants discussed expanding the number of candidates who have passed the EPS-TOPIK Korean language proficiency exam for jobs specifically in the construction sector. The Migration Agency suggested building more direct ties with South Korean construction companies and giving employers additional information about Uzbek workers looking for jobs in the field.
Worksmate also introduced its GADA platform, which is linked to more than 1,500 construction companies in South Korea. The platform keeps records of candidates’ work experience, handles digital documents and supports communication between employers and workers.
The sides also discussed the possible integration of GADA with the Migration Agency’s Xorijda Ish employment platform. Protecting the personal data of Uzbek users was identified as one of the issues that would need to be resolved in any such integration. The talks also addressed the recruitment of skilled workers through South Korea’s E-7 visa system. Worksmate representatives said a project is being developed with relevant organizations to recruit workers from Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Under the proposed project, the starting monthly salary would be KRW 2,156,880, or about $1,560 and UZS 18.59mn at the stated exchange rate. Pay could rise later.
The eligibility criteria would vary depending on applicants’ education and work experience. Graduates of technical colleges would need at least five years of work experience, while those with a bachelor’s degree would need at least one year of professional experience. Applicants with master’s degrees would not need prior work experience.
Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency proposed creating a system for preliminary and targeted training of candidates seeking jobs in South Korea’s construction industry. The suggested model would include Korean-language lessons and vocational skills training, followed by chances to gain experience in Uzbekistan’s construction sector before applying for work in South Korea.
After the negotiations, the parties signed a Letter of Intent to establish cooperation and jointly explore possible areas for further collaboration. Worksmate representatives were also invited to Uzbekistan to continue the talks and examine the process used to train prospective workers.