In particular, at a meeting with the founder and CEO of Worksmate Inc., Sevon Kim, and the CEO of the employment company Hyun Ju, Sidok Lee, issues related to expanding opportunities for citizens of Uzbekistan in the Korean labor market, improving the effectiveness of cooperation within the framework of the E-9 program, as well as the prospects for attracting qualified specialists on the basis of the E-7 visa, were discussed.

E-9: expanding ties with employers in the construction sector

At the meeting, it was noted that, under the EPS system currently in effect between Uzbekistan and Korea, citizens are sent to the Republic of Korea in an organized manner on the basis of an E-9 work visa.

At the same time, attention was drawn to the need to intensify the process by which Korean employers select candidates who have successfully completed the EPS-TOPIK in the construction sector.

The Migration Agency proposed expanding direct contacts with Korean construction companies and strengthening cooperation to provide employers with a broader understanding of the potential of Uzbek candidates.

In this regard, the capabilities of the GADA digital platform, managed by Worksmate Inc., were presented.

Worksmate Inc. was founded in 2020 and specializes in digitally connecting employers and job seekers in the construction sector. According to the company, GADA cooperates with more than 1,500 construction companies in Korea. The platform allows you to track employees’ work experience and employment history, manage the necessary documents in digital format, and simplify the interaction processes between employers and employees.

During the negotiations, the possibility of mutual integration of the Migration Agency’s electronic platform “Xorijda ish” and the GADA platform was discussed. Such a mechanism could create additional opportunities for effectively connecting specialists in the construction industry of Uzbekistan with employers in Korea.

At the same time, special attention was paid to the issue of protecting the personal data of citizens of Uzbekistan. The Agency stated that it is necessary to strictly comply with the requirements of Uzbek legislation when processing and storing citizens’ data.

E-7: a promising area for qualified personnel

Another important topic discussed at the meeting was the prospects for attracting qualified foreign specialists to Korea’s construction industry on the basis of the E‑7 visa.

Representatives of Worksmate Inc. reported that, with the participation of relevant Korean authorities, a project is planned to attract qualified specialists for the construction sector from Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Thailand.

According to the preliminary requirements presented, graduates of vocational education institutions are required to have 5 years of work experience; specialists with a bachelor’s degree must have a diploma and at least 1 year of work experience. For graduates of master’s programs, there is no requirement to have work experience.

Also, according to the data provided, the initial monthly salary will start at 2,156,880 won and may increase as the specialist’s qualifications improve.

The migration agency has proposed a model for preliminary and targeted personnel training in this area. According to the proposal, students of higher educational institutions in Uzbekistan will be taught the Korean language, will be provided with the necessary professional qualifications, will gain the required work experience at local construction companies, and will subsequently be considered for employment as specialists who meet the requirements of the Korean labour market.

This approach is aimed not only at providing the foreign labour market with labour, but also at training competitive specialists with language, professional and practical skills.

A letter of intent on cooperation has been signed.

Following the negotiations between the Migration Agency and "Worksmate Inc.", a letter of intent was signed - LOI to establish cooperation and jointly explore the areas discussed.

The management of "Worksmate Inc." and the working group have also been invited to Uzbekistan to continue practical negotiations, as well as to familiarize themselves with the personnel training system in Uzbekistan and the potential of specialists in the construction industry.

It should be noted that the employment of citizens in the E-7 direction has not yet begun. The parties are currently discussing the possibilities and requirements for the further launch of this mechanism.

The main goal of the negotiations conducted by the Migration Agency is to expand the existing opportunities available to citizens of Uzbekistan in the Korean labor market, strengthen direct ties with employers, and gradually increase the employment opportunities for qualified specialists in high‑paying jobs.