Uzbekistan to intensify criminal liability for illegal dismissal  

The Committee on Labor and Social Issues at the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis held a roundtable in cooperation with the fraction of UzLiDeP and the Party’s Executive Committee of the Political Council. It focused on the important aspects of the law superiority in the practice of law enforcement, especially in ensuring the right of citizens to work. 
 
During the event, the draft law “On introducing amendments and addenda to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Code on Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan” was widely discussed. 

As it was noted at the event, in the first half of 2017 and 2018, courts considered 354 criminal cases against 431 persons for violating labor protection rules. More than 37,000 violations were committed by employers, job vacancies were not created in 405 cases, 3300 vacancies were concealed, 355 employers did not insure their civil liability. 
 
During the roundtable, it was noted that in accordance with the committee's territorial surveys and conversations with the citizens, employment rules were violated by employers, conducting obligatory labor validation was refused and complying with labor protection requirements was failed. 
 
The draft law envisages ensuring the labor and social rights of citizens, strengthening the criminal and civil liability for violating labor protection rules and illegal dismissals. 
 
Also, it is envisaged to increase the administrative penalties in cases where an employer fails to fulfill his obligation to compulsorily insure civil liability, violates the legislation on employment and allows administrative coercion. 
 
The roundtable also focused on the issues of strengthening accountability of employers in the event of disobedience to pay for temporary disability and maternity leave. 
 
Members of the committee pointed out that adoption of this law will help to strengthen protection of labor rights, prevention of offenses in the field of employment and protection of labor, as well as provision of the uniform law enforcement practice in categorizing such offenses.