Opportunities for members of low-income families

A voucher system for vocational training will be introduced for members of low-income families. This is outlined in the presidential decree "Measures to Ensure Employment and Reduce Poverty in 2025."

According to the decree, from February 1, 2025, a targeted training system for unemployed people, including members of low-income families, will be introduced in vocational training centers. This will be based on employer orders and the needs of commercial bank clients, and funding will come from the Employment Assistance State Fund. The program will target jobs in high-demand sectors in the labor market.

Additionally, scholarships will be paid for training in certain professions for people with disabilities and unemployed members of low-income families listed in the poverty register, specifically for training programs lasting more than three months. A voucher system for vocational training expenses will be introduced by May 1, 2025, with a special focus on the unemployed, particularly members of low-income families. The system will initially be tested in Samarkand region and Tashkent city starting February 1, 2025.

"Mother's Shelter" service to be launched

On November 14, 2024, the president approved a decree on improving the social protection system for children. Starting from February 1, 2025, the "Mother's Shelter" service will be introduced in Uzbekistan.

This service will provide temporary housing and support to mothers in difficult life situations who are unable to care for their children, including pregnant women, in children’s homes. The service will offer:

- Temporary accommodation for mothers and their children (under the age of 4) for up to one year based on a social contract;

- Social, legal, psychological, and medical services, as well as programs to help develop maternal and professional skills;

- Support from the "Human" social services center to help these mothers acquire professional skills and find employment.

Additionally, as of February 1, 2025:

- Identification of children in need of social protection will be carried out through a comprehensive assessment of their social status and living conditions by the "Inson" (Human) centers;

- Temporary placement of children: Orphaned children or those removed from their families due to abuse will be placed in family-style children's homes for up to six months until alternative arrangements are made;

- Foster and adoptive care: The process for identifying children who need alternative care and those wishing to adopt will be streamlined through an electronic system, allowing individuals to submit applications online;

- Furthermore, a series of reforms related to the care of children in difficult situations, including the facilitation of foster care and adoption processes, will take effect.

Electrical engineering industry to be developed

On January 22, 2025, the president approved additional measures for the development of the electrical engineering industry. As of February 1, 2025, the following support measures will be introduced:

- Customs incentives for the processing of products within the free customs zone will allow local manufacturers to reprocess imported goods without extra customs duties;

- Research and development centers will benefit from customs exemptions on laboratory equipment and items that are not produced domestically until February 1, 2028;

- Procurement processes for state-owned entities and public sector construction projects will involve purchasing from local manufacturers through an electronic portal, with a special focus on environmental sustainability.

Automated attendance in kindergartens

 

A new system for tracking attendance and managing placements for children in kindergartens will be implemented from February 1, 2025, starting with pilot projects in Tashkent. By July 1, 2025, this system will be expanded to all state-run kindergartens. The system will monitor employee attendance, working hours, and food expenses for children.

The UZINFOCOM system operator will be responsible for maintaining and improving this new system, and parents will contribute 1% of their fees toward its operation. The Ministry of Finance has allocated a budget of at least 50 billion UZS for the provision of tablets and other equipment to implement biometric identification for monitoring attendance.

Growth in electric vehicle charging stations

From February 1, 2025, state institutions, hotels, business centers, shopping malls, and highways of national importance must have at least 5% of their parking spaces equipped with electric vehicle charging stations. The aim is to increase infrastructure for electric vehicles, with further expansion planned around multi-story buildings and commercial areas.

Additional changes

Several other reforms will also come into effect:

- The cessation of guardianship and foster care commissions within district (city) administrations;

- Issuance of social cards for use in social services will be handled through a new 24/7 service, accessible via a short code;

- Requalification programs for adaptive physical education and sports specialists, with certifications that are valid for four years;

- Tax benefits for IT park residents engaged in exporting services will be extended, with a focus on preventing double taxation.