Uzbekistan to introduce a national time scale
 

From January 1, 2025, Uzbekistan will implement its national time scale (UTC UZ), which will be used as the official time of Uzbekistan. This was mentioned in the Cabinet of Ministers' decision titled “Measures for the Effective Organization of Time and Frequency Service Activities in the Republic of Uzbekistan.”

According to the decision, the State Institution of Uzbekistan’s National Metrology Institute will be responsible for the effective operation of the time service. The Metrology Institute will participate in the formation of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and will be authorized to establish Uzbekistan’s national time scale (UTC UZ).

The exact time will be provided by the Time Service and transmitted to relevant state agencies and other organizations based on public-private partnership agreements.

New types of tourism to be introduced

On September 18, 2024, the government adopted a decision titled “On Additional Measures for Introducing New Types of Tourism and Effectively Utilizing the Country’s Tourism Potential.”
 

Based on this document, starting from January 1, 2025, the following new types of tourism will be introduced:

• Industrial Tourism, which involves familiarizing visitors with manufacturing processes;

• Geological Tourism, which includes observing technological processes in gold, ore, and other mineral resource extraction sites, mines, and inactive geological objects, such as safe-distance observations of rock blasting operations, interacting with specialists, and organizing excursions around mountainous terrains;

• Scientific Tourism, which provides opportunities to visit research institutes and laboratories, observatories, planetariums, as well as the Academy of Sciences and its affiliated institutions to learn about achievements in science and technology;

• Military Tourism, which involves visiting places connected to military history and activities, attending memorials and events, learning about the lives and conditions of military personnel, and organizing paid services for shooting practice in designated areas;

• State-Administrative Tourism, which includes visits to sites reflecting the country’s political life and the history and activities of state organizations, including tours of government buildings and facilities.

Additionally, starting January 1, 2025, the Ministry of Defense has been granted permission to introduce services for local and foreign tourists, including:
 

• Familiarization with military equipment and weaponry at the “Victory Park” memorial complex, “Glory” and “Armed Forces” state museums, as well as “Patriots” parks in various regions;

• Paid services at the Kibray Sports Complex of the Ministry of Defense’s Center for the Development of High Sports Results, such as “trap shooting” and firearms training.

The use of wild animals in circus performances will be prohibited

Starting January 1, 2025, the storage and use of wild animals for circus performances in state and traveling circuses (chapiteaux) will be prohibited under a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The document approves the list of wild animals prohibited from being kept by individuals in semi-free conditions, artificial habitats, or captivity, as well as the procedures for legal entities to keep such animals.

According to the resolution, starting January 1, 2025, the following will be prohibited:

• The keeping of listed wild animals by individuals in semi-free conditions, artificial habitats, or captivity;

• The storage and use of wild animals in state and traveling circuses (chapiteaux) for circus performances;

• Listed wild animals may only be kept in zoos and/or nurseries organized by legal entities based on permits issued by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change in accordance with established procedures.

Individuals, as well as state and mobile circuses (chapiteaux), may transfer wild animals under their care to zoos or nurseries either for a fee or free of charge based on agreements. If the animals belong to the fauna of Uzbekistan, they will be returned to their natural habitats; if not, they will be relocated outside Uzbekistan’s territory.

The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Guard, and local authorities, has been tasked with ensuring that wild animals listed in the resolution, kept by individuals and circuses, are transferred to zoos or nurseries by January 1, 2026.

Wages for employees of state cultural institutions and organizations will be increased

On November 22, 2024, the President signed a resolution titled “On Increasing the Salaries of Employees Working in the Fields of Culture and Art, Information-Library Services, and Museums.”

According to the resolution, the salaries of employees in state cultural institutions and organizations will be increased by the following amounts:

• Starting January 1, 2025 – by 20%;

• Starting July 1, 2025 – by an additional 15%.

The document also stipulates the introduction of a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) system to assess the efficiency of employees working in state cultural institutions and organizations.

Business ombudsman to be notified when entrepreneurs are inspected

Starting January 1, 2025, the financial penalty for individuals conducting entrepreneurial activities without registering as sole proprietors will be abolished. This was outlined in the presidential decree "On Measures to Ensure Reliable Protection of Entrepreneurs' Rights and Legal Interests."

According to the decree, from January 1, 2025:

• Financial penalties for individuals conducting entrepreneurial activities without registering as sole proprietors will be abolished;

• The “Risk Analysis” electronic system will be introduced.

In this electronic system, entrepreneurial entities will be classified into low, medium, and high-risk categories regarding the likelihood of violations.

Entrepreneurs classified as low-risk will not be subject to inspections by supervisory bodies.

Additionally, starting January 1, 2025, administrative liability will be abolished for the following:

• Violating procedures for reflecting fiscal marks;

• Breaching rules for mandatory digital labeling of goods (products) that require identification;

• Concealing the number of employees.

The decree also introduces a requirement to register all inspections of entrepreneurial entities in the “Unified State Control” information system and notify the Business Ombudsman. If the specific business entity to be inspected is unclear, the Business Ombudsman must be notified within 24 hours after the inspection begins.

"Mehr daftari" funds to be disbanded

Under a presidential decree, starting January 1, 2025, the practice of temporarily accepting children from low-income families into orphanages and children's homes will be discontinued.

According to the decree, from January 1, 2025:

• The temporary acceptance of children from low-income families into orphanages and children's homes will be abolished;

• Social support will be provided to orphans and children deprived of parental care for education, employment, medical treatment, and housing improvements;

• Prospective adoptive parents will undergo preparation courses, including those wishing to adopt orphans and children deprived of parental care;

• Small-scale children’s homes will gradually be established in Andijan Region, Tashkent City, and Samarkand Region;

• The "Mehr Daftari" funds will be disbanded.

Electronic bracelets to be implemented
 

Electronic bracelets will be introduced gradually starting from January 1, 2025. This is stipulated in the Cabinet of Ministers' resolution "On Approval of the Regulation on Remote Monitoring of Persons Under House Arrest or Sentenced to Restricted Freedom Using Electronic Bracelets."

The electronic bracelet will be attached to the leg of a person under house arrest or sentenced to restricted freedom. If attaching the bracelet to the leg is not possible (due to a bone fracture, medical treatment for injuries, etc.), it may be attached to the wrist.

The electronic bracelet cannot be applied to the following individuals:

• Persons under the age of 18;

• Pregnant women;

• Women with children under the age of three;

• Persons with Category I or II disabilities;

• Individuals who, based on medical conditions, are not recommended to wear an electronic bracelet (e.g., those with implanted pacemakers, contagious skin diseases such as allergic contact dermatitis, fungal infections, or scabies).

Individuals wearing an electronic bracelet must ensure it is charged within the specified time, refrain from removing it arbitrarily, and avoid causing damage to the device.

Replacement housing for residents affected by termite damage

If a home is deemed uninhabitable due to damage from termites or other pests, residents will be provided with alternative housing. This is outlined in the Cabinet of Ministers' resolution that came into force on November 4, 2024.

The resolution approved the administrative regulations for the state service responsible for identifying homes damaged by termites and other pests and declaring them uninhabitable.
 

According to the regulations, starting January 1, 2025, this state service will be provided by a commission for identifying homes damaged by termites and other pests, which will be established by district (city) administrations. The service will be accessible through Public Service Centers and the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services (UPIPS).

Applicants may access the state service by visiting a Public Service Center in person or by registering electronically through the UPIPS.
 

If the applicant visits the Public Service Center in person, the relevant questionnaire will be filled out by a staff member, and after the applicant confirms it, the application will be sent to the commission electronically within 10 minutes. If the application is submitted through the UPIPS, the questionnaire will be automatically forwarded to the commission.

The commission will review the application within seven working days, visit the location of the home, and determine the following: the degree of damage caused by termites and other pests, the home's technical condition, its habitability, and whether it has become uninhabitable. Based on this review, the commission will issue a conclusion to the applicant.

If the home is deemed uninhabitable, a notification will also be sent to the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional administrations, and the Tashkent City administration to consider reclassifying the property as non-residential and removing it from the housing fund.

The conclusion provided to the applicant will serve as a basis for the government to provide housing to the affected individual in accordance with established procedures.

The state service may be denied for the following reasons:

• Incorrect or inaccurate information provided in the application;

• The applicant does not grant the commission access to inspect the home or obstructs the inspection process;

• Despite damage caused by termites or other pests, the home's technical condition allows for habitation;

• No evidence of termite or pest damage is found during the inspection.

Denial of state services for other reasons is prohibited.

Subsidies will be provided for installing drip irrigation systems

This is outlined in the President's decree on "Establishing the activities of the Agro-Industrial Development Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture."

According to the targeted indicators, it is planned to establish fig orchards on 8.2 thousand hectares of land, hazelnut orchards on 2 thousand hectares, and olive plantations on 477 hectares from 2024 to 2027.

According to the decree, starting from January 1, 2025, subsidies will be allocated for the following:

• For installing drip irrigation systems in intensive fruit orchards and vineyards, with a maximum subsidy of 16 million UZS per hectare, determined using a quality coefficient;

• For applying water-saving technologies, based on the size (diameter) of the water pipes, subsidies ranging from 40,000 to 250,000 UZS;

• For purchasing fruit tree seedlings created using the in-vitro method, a subsidy covering 50% of these costs.

Based on advanced foreign experience, a certification procedure for fruit and vine seedlings will be developed, and a seedling certification system will be implemented.

Other notable changes

Starting from January 1, 2025:

• A management office of the "Center for Subsoil Use" will be established under the Ministry of Mining and Geology in the Navoi region, and its operations will be fully organized;

• In the supply of agricultural machinery, exemptions (subsidies, tax and customs benefits, and financial assistance) will only apply to agricultural machinery traded by local producers and dealers, in accordance with existing legislation;

• The procedure for remotely monitoring individuals who have been placed under house arrest or sentenced to restricted freedom will be gradually implemented;

• Parents' contribution fees for children in state preschool education institutions will be increased;

• As part of a legal experiment, from now until December 31, 2026, the Uzbekistan State Youth Theatre and the Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theatre will be granted financial, creative, and organizational independence;

• A system for protecting workers' labor rights and improving occupational safety will be introduced, alongside the establishment of balanced labor relations between employers and employees, with mediation in resolving labor disputes through video conferencing;

• Automated small stations for monitoring air quality will be installed in 12 districts of Tashkent city;

• Post-marketing surveillance of pharmaceutical products will be introduced;

• A new position of Deputy Director of State Preschool Education Institutions, maintaining the current labor compensation conditions, will be established, and inclusive education groups will be opened in selected preschool institutions on a trial basis;

• Additionally, state-private partnerships will be encouraged for the operation of private preschools in areas with low coverage of public preschools;

• Starting from January 1, 2028, the profit tax rate for public catering businesses will be reduced by 50%;

• For families receiving pensions and material assistance for their children, the assistance will continue to be provided for up to six months after the family members find employment, start self-employment, or engage in entrepreneurial activity;

• Children from low-income families will be accepted into state preschool institutions on a preferential basis;

• A system for training and improving the qualifications of preschool education institution directors will be introduced, including a management training course and the electronic certification of managers;

• A register will be maintained for individuals subjected to pressure by law enforcement agencies, who have committed or are likely to commit acts of violence;

• The salaries of directors, deputy directors, teachers, and concertmasters at children's music and arts schools under the Ministry of Culture will be increased by 10%;

• Consulting companies, higher education institutions, and research institutes will be involved in carrying out statistical monitoring activities.