\documentclass{article}

\usepackage[showboxes]{textpos}
\setlength{\parindent}{0pt}

\begin{document}

\begin{textblock}{5}(0,0)
In this document we have figures~\ref{figa} and~\ref{figb}.
\end{textblock}

\begin{textblock}{5}(1,1)
  Here is a figure.
  \begin{figure}
  Text
  \caption{This is the first figure}
  \label{figa}
  \end{figure}
\end{textblock}

\begin{textblock}{5}(2,2)
  Here is another figure.
  \begin{figure}
  More text
  \caption{\label{figb}This is the second figure}
  \end{figure}
\end{textblock}

\begin{textblock}{5}(3,3)
  We can still refer to figures~\ref{figb} and~\ref{figa}.
\end{textblock}

\end{document}