Proposals made to simplify catering hires in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Proposals to simplify employment procedures in Uzbekistan's food service sector, where high staff turnover remains a persistent challenge, were presented during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's sixth open dialogue with entrepreneurs held in Khiva on 18 August 2026.

Dinara Islamova, founder of Dodo Pizza Tashkent, raised the initiative during the meeting. She noted that public catering enterprises primarily employ young people, for whom food service roles are often their first jobs and are frequently viewed as temporary or seasonal positions. Consequently, Islamova stressed the necessity of reducing bureaucratic burdens associated with formalizing employment relationships.

The first proposal focuses on expanding the technical capabilities of the Unified National Labor System. Since the platform already stores employee data and is integrated with government databases, Islamova proposed conferring full legal validity on these digital records to completely transition the hiring process from paper-based paperwork to a digital format.

The second proposal advocates for a streamlined, electronic employment registration process for new hires in industries experiencing high staff turnover, which Islamova noted would significantly alleviate excess paperwork for businesses.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev supported both proposals, stating that implementing the measures will require streamlining labor regulations and introducing amendments to existing legislation where necessary.

During her address, Islamova also detailed the expansion of Dodo Pizza Tashkent. The company currently operates 19 branches, with plans to increase its location count to 21 in September. Over the past two years, the chain's workforce has grown to 300 employees. For 2027, the enterprise plans to open 20 additional pizzerias with a focus on regional expansion, aiming to double its total headcount.