Croatia and Uzbekistan Strengthen Cooperation on Organised Labour Recruitment
Croatia and Uzbekistan have taken steps to formalise cooperation on organised labour recruitment, aiming to address workforce shortages in Croatia, particularly in the construction sector.
On 15 October 2026, an intergovernmental agreement was signed in Zagreb between Croatia’s Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, the Croatian Employment Service and Uzbekistan’s Agency for External Labour Migration.
The following day, on 16 October, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP) and the Uzbek side, further strengthening the framework for cooperation between employers and recruitment authorities.
Key Areas of Cooperation
The agreements establish a framework for facilitating the recruitment of Uzbek nationals to work in Croatia, with a particular focus on sectors experiencing labour shortages.
The main areas of potential employment include:
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Construction: electricians, facade specialists and finishing workers
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Seasonal employment: including tourism and hospitality
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Services: other sectors with demand for foreign workers
Proposed Pilot Recruitment Programme
The parties are discussing a pilot project aimed at selecting and recruiting between 100 and 200 skilled workers from Uzbekistan.
The proposed recruitment process is expected to include:
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Preliminary online candidate selection based on Croatian employers' workforce requirements
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Professional training and skills development in Uzbekistan
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Language preparation before workers travel to Croatia
This approach is intended to better align candidates' qualifications with employers' needs and facilitate their integration into the Croatian labour market.
What Employers Should Know
The agreements provide a framework for cooperation but are non-binding in nature. They do not guarantee automatic employment or introduce exemptions from Croatia's existing immigration and employment procedures.
Uzbek nationals recruited under these arrangements will still need to comply with the applicable requirements for work and residence permits in Croatia.
What This Means for International Employers
The new cooperation framework signals further development of organised labour mobility between Central Asia and Southeast Europe. For Croatian employers, particularly in construction, tourism and services, it may create additional opportunities to access workers from Uzbekistan through more structured recruitment channels.
Companies considering international recruitment should continue to monitor the implementation of these arrangements and ensure that all employment, immigration and residence requirements are met.
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