June the 26th, 2026 – Croatia has officially put pen to paper and signed a deal that will allow them to recruit and import workers from Uzbekistan.
Croatia is preparing to open a new channel for foreign labour recruitment after the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP) signed an agreement with the Employers’ Confederation of Uzbekistan to facilitate the arrival of workers from the Central Asian country.
Poslovni writes that this memorandum, signed by HUP’s Construction Employers Association and its Uzbek counterpart, establishes a framework for long-term cooperation aimed at bringing qualified workers to Croatia while creating a more structured and transparent recruitment process.
The agreement focuses particularly on the construction sector, where Croatian companies have been facing a growing shortage of labour. Workers from Uzbekistan are expected to undergo vocational training, gain qualifications aligned with European standards, and receive Croatian language preparation before arriving.
HUP said the partnership is intended to reduce reliance on informal recruitment channels by working directly with Uzbek institutions. The model is designed to lower costs for employers and protect workers from excessive intermediary fees.
Representatives from both sides described the agreement as more than a short-term response to labour shortages, saying it aims to create a sustainable system for legal and organised labour migration between Croatia and Uzbekistan.
Croatia has increasingly turned to foreign workers as demographic decline, emigration, and labour shortages continue to affect industries including construction, manufacturing, logistics, transport, tourism, and hospitality.
