What will change in Uzbekistan from December 1?

Starting from December 1, 2024, several legislative changes will be implemented in Uzbekistan. QALAMPIR.UZ has compiled a list of these changes in one place.

New pensioners will be issued “Social Cards”

Newly assigned social payments, services, and benefits will be transferred to the “social card”. Support measures will be provided through this card.

The issuance of cards should relieve citizens in need of social assistance from the need to collect documents. The new system is expected to simplify and speed up the provision of social assistance, as well as streamline the process.

Applications for vehicle registration will be accepted online

Applications for vehicle registration and issuance of state license plates will be accepted through the mobile application of the Traffic Safety Service, official website, Call-center or the Unified Portal, and payments will be made online.

In this case, you need to select the type of registration, enter information about the documents, upload their copies if necessary, and confirm this information by entering your phone number.

After that, an SMS will be sent with payment details and amount. Fees and charges are paid online. The application is sent online to the State Traffic Safety Administration and its territorial departments. The car must be taken to the department without delay for a technical inspection.

A technical inspection is carried out based on the information about the vehicle, its type, make, model and modification, RO'DRB, identification chassis (frame), body and engine numbers, gross weight, unladen weight, number of seats.

Applications for a mortgage loan for home improvement will begin

Citizens will be able to apply online for a loan of up to 120 million sums for the construction, reconstruction and repair of individual housing. The funds will be allocated for up to 20 years at a rate four percentage points higher than the Central Bank's base rate (18 percent) based on the recommendation of the Mahalla Seven.

A subsidy of 15 percent of the loan will be provided to cover part of the down payment, and a subsidy of 12 percent for interest payments exceeding 15 percent for up to five years. They can be obtained through the "subsidyplatform.mf.uz" platform.

An online application system will be developed by December 1 of this year. After that, the opportunity to apply through the "Online Mahalla" electronic platform will be created.

It will be possible to recover compensation for infringement of patent rights

Additions to the Law "On Inventions, Utility Models and Industrial Designs" will come into force on December 12.

Now, the patent owner may demand compensation from the person using the industrial property object in violation of his exclusive right in lieu of compensation for damages in the amount of 20 to 1,000 times the MRP (which is 6.8-340 million sums until October 1).

Compensation is paid regardless of the fact of causing damages. When determining the amount, the nature of the violation, the degree of guilt of the person using the industrial property object, and business practices are taken into account.

The amount of compensation is determined by agreement of the parties or by the court. Previously, such norms did not exist.

Payments for drinking and wastewater will be accepted only online

From December 1, payments for water supply and sewage services in Uzbekistan will be accepted only in electronic form. This measure is being implemented in order to ensure transparency in the industry and eliminate corruption. After all, a number of corruption cases have been identified in the industry recently. In particular, several violations of the law were observed related to the payment in cash.

The amount of reserve funds for private employment agencies will be reduced

By presidential decree, a new Migration Agency was established under the Cabinet of Ministers on the basis of the Agency for Foreign Labor Migration.

Starting in December, the Agency will introduce a procedure for placing orders for vocational and foreign language training for citizens wishing to work abroad in educational organizations.

The amount of funds reserved for obtaining a license for private employment agencies will be reduced from 8.5 thousand to 4 thousand times the minimum wage (from 3.19 billion to 1.5 billion sums).

By 2026, the functions of the agency related to the organized selection, sending and employment of citizens abroad will be gradually transferred to private employment agencies.

Uzbekistan railways increases freight rates by 30%

Tariffs for domestic rail transport will be increased by 30%.

The change will affect the company's inventory of wagons and will be determined based on the type of wagon: universal, specialized, or tank.

The decision was made to partially cover the increased costs associated with the wagon part and to renew the wagon fleet.

Law "On Conflict of Interest" comes into force

The Law "On Conflict of Interest," signed by the President, will come into force on December 6.

The document applies to state bodies and local government bodies, state institutions, state unitary enterprises, state trust funds, joint-stock companies with a state share of 50 percent or more in the authorized capital.

The following persons are recognized as persons related to an employee of a state body or other organization:

- Close relatives of an employee of a state body or other organization;
- A legal entity in which an employee of a state body or other organization and (or) his/her close relatives own shares or stakes in the authorized capital;
- A legal entity in which an employee of a state body or other organization or his/her close relatives are the head or member of the management body.

Processes related to the activities of urban planning councils will be digitized

Now all projects are submitted to the Town Planning Council electronically via the “Transparent Construction” platform. The need to obtain a separate opinion from the district department of SES and fire safety on project documentation is canceled.

Council members will submit the project electronically via the platform with a subsystem, and the project review period should not exceed 15 days. This procedure will be implemented in Tashkent from December 1 and in the remaining regions from April 1, 2025.

Restaurants and cafes can purchase agricultural products in cash.

No documents are required for the registration (registration) of agricultural products purchased in cash from restaurants and cafes that have switched to VAT.

Register of poor families is maintained

The National Agency for Social Protection will form a register of poor families. The register will be compiled by the “mahalla yettiligi” by studying the social conditions of poor families and the reasons for falling into poverty.

Social tax is paid at a rate of 1 percent for three years for a registered family member who is employed with a monthly salary of at least 1.5 times the minimum wage.