President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has initiated penalties for over 20 khokims (district heads) due to insufficient work and "showy" actions in the field of employment. This was reported by the president's press secretary Sherzod Asadov after a video selector meeting held on November 19, where the results of the fight against poverty and employment were discussed.
According to Asadov, the president instructed the prime minister to take measures against the khokims of 20 districts, including Yashnabad, Bukhara, Gijduvan, Kasansay, Khatyrchi, Kumkurgan, Yangiyul, Uzbekistan, Gulistan, Yakkabag, Andijan, Parkent, Tashkent, Nurabad, Uchtepa, Chartak, Davlatabad, Altynkul, Kizirik, and Kagan, accusing them of inefficiency in fulfilling tasks to improve the lives of the population.
The president also ordered the dismissal of the khokims of the Denau and Chirakchin districts, as well as their first deputies. Despite the allocation of significant funds, these districts failed to achieve the set goals for improving the living conditions of citizens.
Since the beginning of this year, 261 responsible employees have been dismissed in Uzbekistan for failing to meet tasks related to poverty reduction and employment provision, and another 492 individuals received disciplinary actions. Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to change the working style of deputy khokims, heads of employment services, and banks to help about 400,000 of the most needy families escape poverty.
“All leaders must ask themselves: how well are they using the opportunities provided to them? What are the results of their work? Are the reforms reaching every family? How do people feel about it? There are many questions, and all leaders must be ready for this. The year is coming to an end, and I will analyze the achievements and draw conclusions on some of them,” the president noted.
Additionally, he reported that the unemployment rate in Uzbekistan this year has decreased to 4.9% compared to 5.5% last year. In several cities, such as Bukhara, Kagan, Navoi, Zarafshan, Gazgan, Samarkand, and Shirin, this figure has dropped below 4%, which is almost in line with the natural unemployment rate. 302,000 families have moved out of the needy category, and it is expected that the poverty level will decrease to 6% — compared to 8.9% last year. In some districts, the number of poor families has been reduced by 4.5 times, 105,000 families have started earning income, and the average earnings of the poor have doubled.
As an example of successful work, the president highlighted the Uzun district of the Surkhandarya region, where 51 mahallas (communities) were allocated 160 billion sums (over $13 million). The district managed to attract $70 million in investments, open 47 new enterprises, and implement over two thousand micro-projects, which contributed to the employment of about a thousand people. Nine mahallas began to specialize in viticulture, and the poverty level in this area decreased from 10.5% to 3%.
The authorities of Uzbekistan plan to reduce the levels of poverty and unemployment to 4.5% by 2026. To achieve this goal, 450 trillion sums ($37.5 billion) will be directed into the economy, of which 140 trillion sums ($11.6 billion) are intended to support small and medium-sized businesses in the mahallas.
