Uzbekistan Public Works Programme

The PWP is managed by the MELR. The Government allocates funds to the PWF, which funds the PWP. Uzbek citizens register as unemployed or as job-seekers with EPCs (affiliated to the MELR). Local government, NGOs, and private sector employers submit applications to EPCs to hire workers under the PWP. The EPCs consolidate these requests and submit them to the Public Works Fund (PWF), which allocates funds. The EPC also monitor employer activities. All employers have to offer work under one of the 18 (increased from 9 pre-COVID-19) areas of public work and must indicate the number of people, duration, and skills requirements. While for local government the PWF covers the full salary, for NGOs and the private sector, it initially only covered 50 percent, increased to 100 percent after COVID-19. The PWF does not cover non-wage costs. There are different wage rates paid under the PWP, which are determined by the type of work. Before November 2020, wages were between 10 and 65 percent higher than the official minimum wage per month. Private employers can pay higher salaries, but they must pay the difference. In October 2020, the Uzbek Government increased the wages in the PWP (in line with increases in unemployment benefits). Participants previously had access to temporary jobs, between two weeks and three months, but after COVID-19 the period was increased to six months. Participation in the PWP does not impact access to other social protection benefits, but those in the PWP cannot receive unemployment benefits. For 2020, the Government allocated 450 billion soums to the PWF, which funds all the salaries and costs associated to the implementation of the PWP. The total amount includes an additional allocation of 200 billion soums to respond to COVID-19 jobs crisis.