Russia and Uzbekistan on Wednesday signed four agreements, including a document on migration policy.

The agreement on labour activity and the protection of rights of citizens of the two countries includes 19 articles and regulates labour activity and the protection of labour migrants who arrive in any country for temporary work irrespective of sex, race, language, confession or convictions, political or other views, and any other sign.

The entry, the departure and stay of labour migrants on the territory of a receiving nation are being made in compliance with the state’s legislation, the present agreement and other international treaties signed by Russia and Uzbekistan.

"Labour migrants have the right to buy foreign currency on the market of a receiving nation, transfer and remove earned funds in foreign currency or property of a state of permanent residency without any restrictions in compliance with legislation of a receiving nation," the agreement says.

Under the agreement on cooperation in the fight against illegal migration, "the sides take necessary legal measures to prevent illegal migration on the territory of their countries". Every side respects the confidentiality of information and documents if they are of secret nature or if a disclosing party considers it undesirable. The degree of confidentiality is being determined by a disclosing side.

The agreement on readmission fixes the order of identification and returning back of the illegal migrants as well as facilitates their transit passage.

Head of the Russian Federal Migration Service Konstantin Romodanovsky said the signing of a readmission agreement with Uzbekistan would play a positive role in introducing a visa-free regime on the Russia-EU space.

"These are interrelated elements," he told Itar-Tass.

He stressed that Uzbekistan had become the second CIS country (after Ukraine) that signed the readmission agreement with Russia. "Now we’re preparing the document with Kazakhstan. The agreements with other countries are being worked out," he added.

In his view, the signed documents prove that "there are no white spots in Russian-Uzbek migration cooperation".

The agreements "are designed to protect the labour market and create a mechanism for fighting illegal migration, ensuring law and order and easing the returning back process. In light of the implementation of the major economic projects, the agreements will give effect," the Russian official said.

In his words, a total of 0.5 million Uzbek citizens arrived in Russia and about 200,000 people have work permit.

Uzbekistan ranks third or fourth on the scale of labour migration in Russia after Ukraine and Kazakhstan.