A number of legislative changes will take effect in Uzbekistan from January 1, 2025. Among them are legalization of online gambling and betting, rise in Tashkent public transport fares, and introduction of tax cashbacks for pubs and restaurants.
Online gambling and betting will be permitted
Online gambling and betting will be permitted from January 1, 2025 based on licenses from the National Agency for the Protection of Consumer Rights.
Cash payments fare on Tashkent buses and metro will rise
From January 1, the cash payments fare on Tashkent public transport will rise from 2,000 to 3,000 soums. The fare for non-cash payments will remain the same - 1,700 soums. While, cash payments will not be accepted on buses; to do this, one will need to buy a one-time ticket with a QR code at infokiosks.
Inclusive groups will be introduced in kindergartens
From January 1, one inclusive education group will be opened in each district and city of Uzbekistan in state preschool educational institutions of the general type.
Mayors will get additional powers
Mayor offices of districts and cities shall be entitled to form a Public Council of Entrepreneurs to create a system of permanent communication between government agencies and businesses. They will be able to appoint and sack heads of district (city) departments of some ministries and departments in agreement with the regional departments of these bodies, as well as encourage or bring them to disciplinary responsibility.
Fee for hiring foreign teachers in Uzbekistan will be cut by 30 times
From January 1, the fee charged when issuing a work permit in Uzbekistan for foreign teachers to state and non-state educational organizations will be reduced from 30 times the base calculation units (11.2 million soums) to a fixed rate (375 thousand soums).
State will provide tax reliefs to pubs, cafes and restaurants for non-cash payments
From January 1 next year, pubs, cafes and restaurants will be refunded part of the VAT in the form of cashback. Companies that have 60% of their non-cash monthly turnover will be able to return 40% of the VAT immediately after paying this tax. If the non-cash turnover is less than 60%, the cashback will be reduced to 20%.
Banks will refuse to lend to those with debt burden of over 50%
When issuing all types of loans (including microloans), lenders will be required to ensure that the borrower's debt burden does not exceed 50%. This means that banks will refuse loans if the borrower spends more than half of their income on repaying them.
Salaries of culture and art workers of state-financed organizations will be raised
The salaries of workers in the sphere of culture and art, information and library work and museums will increase by 20% from January 1, and by another 15% from July 1, 2025. Salaries in the National Symphony Orchestra will also increase.
Social tax for employed persons from Poor Families Register will be cut to 1%
For a family member included in the Poor Families Register who is employed with a monthly salary of at least 1.5 times the minimum wage, social tax shall be 1% for three years.
New positions to be introduced in multidisciplinary polyclinics
Starting January 1, 2025, new staff positions will be added in district and city multidisciplinary central polyclinics. The move is part of the new state cervical and breast cancer program.
Waste transportation will become a licensed activity
From January 1, 2025, transporting solid household, construction, liquid household, medical, industrial, hazardous and toxic waste will become licensed activity.
Children from poor families will no longer be temporarily placed in orphanages
From January 1, 2025, the practice of temporarily placing children from low-income families in orphanages will be abolished. Instead, mayor’s assistants and social workers must help lift families out of poverty.
