Strong social protection:
a permanent priority
One of the key principles of the reforming the national economy is a strong social policy. Much has been
done so far in terms of advancing the social-economic interests of the people and improving living
standards for their families.
Every year more than 60 % of state budget is spent on
measures that ensure the social welfare of the population. This are: protection mothers and child, support
for elder generation and disabled people, families with
many children and vulnerable families, not forgetting
the unemployed and also students.
The main objective of social protection policy from
the early stages of Uzbekistan’s Independence was
to protect vulnerable groups by providing guaranteed minimum incomes. In the difficult period of
structural reforms in 1990’s social protection helped
to mitigate some of their undesirable impacts on
the population, to maintain social stability in the
country and guarantee basic social rights.
Social protection policy was successful in preventing a large share of the vulnerable from falling
into poverty. Moreover, Uzbekistan managed to
preserve the access of children from low-income
families to free health care and education and to
maintain its pre-reform levels of literacy.
Economic growth has been strong for almost a
decade and the country has graduated to middle-income status. Demand for social services, the current
social protection model also revised in line with
these new demands and transformations.
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The first stage of reform saw the social guarantees
extended towards people with nationwide privatization. The principle of equality of citizens has
been strenuously observed.
The key factor in building a new social protection
model is an effective employment policy.
Families in need of state support are granted
allowances. The Republican center for rehabilitation
of the disabled has been established in Tashk ent,
which renders assistance to people with disabilities,
for instance, help with housing costs.
Uzbek people traditionally taking care with elder
generation and special focus on this area was done
within the realization of State program «Year of
attention and care for the older generation» in 2015.
To the implementation such programs involving all
ministries and departments, enterprises and organizations of all sectors of the economy, social structures, primarily funds «Nuroniy» and «Mahalla»,
that no sphere of life of the older generation either
remained without due care and attention.
Elderly people in regular base have passing free
medical examination. Needy persons with disabilities have the opportunity to receive prosthetic and
orthopedic products and technical means of rehabilitation of high quality. Veterans covered by the medical examination in hospital and health recreation
and spa facilities. All centenarians Uzbekistan, who
have reached the age of 100 years, receiving special
allowance of one minimum wage added to pension.