Uzbekistan Transitions to a New Social Protection Model with a Unified Insurance Fund

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As of 1 January, Uzbekistan has launched a state social insurance system, representing one of the most significant social reforms in recent years. Its introduction marks the transition to a new model of social protection aimed at reducing income loss risks and ensuring fairer conditions for all categories of employed citizens, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan reports.

The primary objective of the reform is to safeguard citizens against loss of earnings due to illness, pregnancy, dismissal, and other life circumstances. Authorities expect that the system will lower social vulnerability and mitigate poverty risks while simultaneously strengthening the state’s role in providing basic social guarantees.

A fundamental distinction of the new model is that social benefits are no longer financed by employers. Funding is provided through the State Social Insurance Fund, creating a single, universal support mechanism regardless of the type of employment. This levels the playing field between public- and private-sector employees, addressing a longstanding challenge in the country’s social policy.

The system is being implemented in stages. From 1 January 2026, maternity and childbirth benefits will be paid. From 1 July 2026, temporary disability benefits due to illness will be introduced, and from 1 January 2030, unemployment benefits will be added.

The new system covers employees under labor contracts, private-sector staff, self-employed individuals, individual entrepreneurs, citizens working abroad, dehkan farmers, family business participants, artisans, and others engaged in formal labor activities. Participation is mandatory for formally employed citizens, while voluntary enrollment is available for other categories.

The reform carries particular significance for women employed in the private sector, who now have a guaranteed right to full maternity and childbirth benefits. Previously, a substantial number of women were effectively excluded from such support, and the new system eliminates this inequality.

A key feature of the reform is a proactive benefits assignment mechanism. Benefits are processed automatically without the need for citizens to submit applications. All required information is verified through electronic government systems, after which benefits are calculated and assigned. Recipients are notified via SMS. This approach eliminates the need for paper documentation, queues, and excessive bureaucracy.

The amount of benefits depends on the insured individual’s length of service and level of formal income. Higher payments are provided for socially vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities and large families.

Authorities emphasize that the introduction of the state social insurance system is aimed not only at financial support for citizens but also at achieving broader socio-economic objectives, such as reducing income loss risks, preventing the rise of poverty, promoting formal employment, and expanding equal opportunities for private-sector employees and women.

Overall, the new system is viewed as a structural reform designed to strengthen social resilience, increase trust in state institutions, and ensure more consistent implementation of social justice principles.