Uzbekistan Extends Working Mother Benefits to One Year

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Working mothers enrolled in Uzbekistan's Social Register will receive childcare benefits from the Social Insurance Fund until their child reaches one year of age, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced during a government meeting on poverty reduction and income growth on 3 September 2026.

As part of the initiative, the president instructed the National Agency for Social Protection to overhaul the criteria for inclusion in the Social Register by the end of the year. The current system, which assesses vulnerability solely on income levels, will transition to a multidimensional evaluation model.

The updated assessment criteria will incorporate factors such as chronic illnesses, disability status, family size, and household members working abroad. The revision aims to improve targeting accuracy and broaden social support coverage.

According to figures cited by the president, Uzbekistan's overall national poverty rate has decreased to 3.9 percent. However, the poverty rate among households raising children under the age of three averages 6.5 percent. Mirziyoyev stated that the government will establish systems enabling parents caring for children to secure employment and income at home or within their local mahallas.

The meeting also reviewed support programs for low-income households lacking able-bodied family members. A social safety net package budgeted at 300 billion soums was allocated this year to generate passive income for vulnerable households. To date, 11,000 families have received assistance under the scheme, with roughly half experiencing notable income growth. The president directed officials to draft a formal decree within a week to extend the initiative.

Starting in 2027, Uzbekistan plans to introduce a voucher system for children from families listed in the Social Register. The 12-month vouchers will cover costs associated with public and private preschools, educational centers, transportation, and university dormitory accommodation. Eligibility for the voucher will remain valid for the full 12-month period even if the family is subsequently removed from the Social Register.

The operational oversight of the Social Register follows earlier criticism raised during a July meeting, where officials noted that all 2,000 applications submitted by low-income families across 184 mahallas were rejected in a single month. The unfounded rejections prevented vulnerable families from accessing state aid and educational enrollment for children, prompting instructions for the General Prosecutor's Office to tighten oversight over the registry's administration.