Uzbek Parliament Approves Sweeping Labor Relations Reform

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (the lower house of parliament) has reviewed and passed a draft law aimed at modernizing labor relations, streamlining hiring procedures, and strengthening the legal protection of employees' rights.

A primary focus of the bill is the reduction of bureaucratic paperwork required during the hiring process. Under the new regulations, the Personal Identification Number of a Physical Person (PINFL) will serve as the primary identifier for employment. For citizens subject to military service registration, a military ID or registration certificate will additionally be required. Crucially, the reform eliminates the need for job seekers to present physical, paper-based printouts of their electronic labor histories.

In a major step toward digitalizing the workforce, the bill introduces the legal framework for remote labor contracts. Documents signed digitally using electronic signatures or biometrically verified via Face-ID systems will be recognized as legally equivalent to traditional, hand-signed paper documents. This advancement will allow employers and employees to formalize labor agreements remotely without requiring in-person visits.

The draft law also incorporates robust safety standards in the workplace, introducing a strict legislative ban on all forms of pressure, harassment, and violence. Employers will be legally obligated to establish internal preventive measures to deter such behavior and actively protect affected employees.

Additionally, the bill refines the mechanism for holding employers accountable for delayed salary payments. Should an employer violate established wage payment deadlines, they will be legally required to pay monetary compensation to the employee for each day of the delay.

According to parliamentary representatives, these comprehensive amendments are designed to increase transparency in labor relations, accelerate the adoption of digital technologies in human resources, and bolster protections for employees nationwide.