Uzbekistan takes practical measures to ensure employment at times of novel coronavirus

On April 22 President of Uzbekistan held a meeting devoted to issues of employment, informs “Dunyo” IA correspondent with the reference to the Press-service of the President of Uzbekistan.

As stated at the event, quarantine measures impacted on the volume of production and services as well as the number of unemployed. Tax revenues in some regions decreased by 30–40%, in a number of districts and cities - by more than 50%.

Government is taking necessary measures to address this challenge. Particularly, a number of families with children who are entitled to benefits and financial assistance has increased. The terms of payments on household loans extended by 3.26 trillion soums. 141.8 thousand citizens provided with employment at the expense of the Employment Promotion Fund and the Public Works Fund.

However, changing environment requires additional measures. Entrepreneurs and farmers should help poor families do household chores in their yards, allocate plots in their lands for re-cultivating crops and promote home-based work. Such entities will be given a deferral or installment plan for taxes or loans.

President of Uzbekistan spoke on possibility of creating 14 thousand new jobs via setting up agricultural cooperatives and home greenhouses. Uzbek leader ordered to cover 110 thousand people with seasonal job; 167 thousand – community job. 52 thousand more jobs could be created by building orchards and vineyards, 785 thousand in silk industry and 75 thousand in construction and infrastructure areas.

Service industry was also on the agenda. 13 thousand catering businesses, 45 thousand in the area of trade, 19 thousand – service, 7 thousand in transportation area either suspended their work or lost profit.

Freelance workers will also be supported. Currently, people are allowed to do 24 types of jobs compared to 85 types in individual enterprises. President ordered to extend the list and introduce registration system for freelance workers.

Nowadays, handcrafting provides jobs to more than 25 thousand people and this number increases to 80 thousand, if mentees are included. During the event, the Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered to organize remote learning courses on handcrafting for youth and women.

“Hunarmand” Association, Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade are responsible for creating online platform to help sale handcrafting items overseas.

A plethora people in Uzbekistan are providing design, translation, programming, marking, teaching and other services through internet. These specialists are facing challenges in setting up a bank account and receiving payments. Responsible individuals are assigned to encourage young people to find profit via intellectual labor in the internet, provide benefits for them, and introduce popular foreign payment systems.

“Dunyo” IA