Uzbekistan reduces government and local administration workforce

Uzbekistan has introduced a 5.2% reduction in administrative staff within ministries and state agencies, following a presidential directive issued on October 22. This move will see a significant restructuring within the government, impacting executive leadership as well as working-level positions.

The decree sets a cap on the workforce across 70 executive bodies, including 21 ministries, 14 committees, 26 agencies, and 9 inspections, capping the number of management staff at 53,560. Previously, the total number of employees was 56,509, meaning 2,949 positions will be cut.

Funding changes also accompany this downsizing. The number of employees financed through the state budget will drop from 51,950 to 49,105, while those funded by extrabudgetary sources will be reduced from 4,919 to 4,455. Key agencies facing reductions include the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which will reduce its staff by 580, while the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade will see a 336-person reduction. In contrast, the Customs Committee will lose 693 positions, while the Committee on Family and Women's Affairs will gain 433 new roles.

Local administrative bodies are also affected. Most regions will see an increase in the number of management staff, with their total workforce growing from 706 to 886. Tashkent city and district administrations will experience further staff reductions, with the capital’s district administrations dropping from 568 to 359 employees.

This workforce reorganization aligns with broader administrative reforms in Uzbekistan. These include reallocating responsibilities from regional and municipal offices to the Ministry of Employment, as several regional offices and entrepreneurship centers have been dissolved, consolidating services under the ministry’s purview.

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