South Korean officials contacted Uzbekistan against the backdrop of the country’s need to provide an additional 3,000 workers per year for the automotive industry, bne IntelliNews reported.
The Korea Automobile Industry Association (KAIA) revealed the labour shortage. Meanwhile, Uzbeks are getting more job opportunities both in the east and the west.
Details about the needs of the Korean automotive industry came to light during a meeting between the Uzbek Minister of Poverty Alleviation and Employment, Behzod Musaev, and the chairman of the Automotive Industry Association of the Republic of Korea, Kwak Yong Chol.
Leaders of automotive groups from across Uzbekistan reportedly participated in an associated dialogue organised for the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. KAIA stated that South Korea’s automotive industry had 6,800 enterprises and 48,000 employees in urgent need of additional labour.
Both sides agreed to expedite the inclusion of Uzbek nationals interested in working in the Korean automotive sector. The co-operation is in line with the Uzbek Ministry of Employment’s plan to send 100,000 Uzbek nationals to work in South Korea in 2024.
South Korea has become an attractive destination for Uzbek workers, expanding opportunities beyond traditional migrant labour destinations such as Russia.
Germany recently announced some 50,000 vacancies with starting salaries of 1,000 to 2,000 euros per month, while South Korea offered 100,000 jobs, mostly in agriculture and food production, with average salaries of $2,000 to $2,500 per month. Israel, seeking 65,000 workers to replace Palestinian labourers, has also become a popular destination for Uzbek workers.
