Sherzod Kudbiyev, head of the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, commented on the “initiative to implement patenting the unemployed”, which went viral in social networks. According to the minister, it is optional and nobody will be forced to receive a patent or to make payments, Kun.uz correspondent reports referring to the speech delivered by Mr. Kudbiyev at a meeting in the Ministry.
“Our experience shows that some of the mass media may misinterpret our noble intentions. In a literal sense, I would like to ask the attendees and the media representatives to collaborate. Our offer of patenting for employment is now being widely discussed online. This was not a novelty. Some media outlets have posted this message on social networks as an advertisement,” the Minister said.
Even though it was not related to the agenda of the meeting, he clarified the patent issue.
“It is fact that today many of our citizens are self-employed. They are unprotected and provision of pensions for them once they are retired is not envisaged in our laws (as they are not employed by government or other social bodies). It is all about provision of the opportunity for them to pay 4.5 times the minimum monthly wage. If they do not want to pay, nobody will force them to make certain compulsory payments. They will continue to find jobs individually and work in private organizations,” Mr. Kudbiyev explained.
He stressed that labor migrants, who work abroad, have the same standard. Individuals working at private households will be given the opportunity to receive a pension if they pay a certain amount of money. Others have no such a right.
“People will be given the right to get a pension, even those who find work by themselves. This is the end of the story. But some media sources have announced as if the government wants to tax self-employed individuals,” Sherzod Kudbiyev said.
