Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — More than 40% of employees in Uzbekistan’s food service sector have failed to complete mandatory medical examinations, according to a report from the Competition Development and Consumer Protection Committee.

In Uzbekistan, workers in the public catering and retail sectors are legally required to comply with sanitary standards, including mandatory medical check-ups, as stipulated by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 75 (from 13 February 2003) and Sanitary-Epidemiological Service Resolution No. 14 (from 14 July 2022). These measures aim to safeguard public health and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

By law, employers are prohibited from allowing unexamined employees to work, as doing so may pose serious risks to consumer safety.

As part of ongoing oversight efforts, the Committee conducted random inspections of 380 food service establishments, assessing compliance with medical examination requirements.

The findings revealed that 41% of more than 2,800 employees — 1,164 workers — had not undergone medical screening. The situation varied by region:

Karakalpakstan: 84 out of 128 employees at 14 establishments were non-compliant.

Fergana Region: 150 of 393 workers at 49 businesses had not been examined.

Surkhandarya Region: 123 out of 301 employees failed to complete check-ups.

Syrdarya Region: 304 of 1,126 workers lacked valid medical clearance.

Namangan Region: 163 out of 185 workers were non-compliant.

Jizzakh Region: Shockingly, none of the 337 employees inspected had completed medical examinations.

Despite some workers being in compliance, the overall findings raise serious public health concerns. The collected data has been forwarded to the Ministry of Health and the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare for further action.

Uzbekistan is home to over 21,000 food service establishments, including restaurants, cafes, bars, canteens, and buffets. Ensuring strict compliance with health regulations remains a top priority to protect both workers and consumers.