Lawmakers approve paid paternity leave for childbirth in first reading

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan conceptually approved the draft law during a meeting, as reported by the press service of the lower house of parliament.

The proposed amendments include measures to ban and prevent workplace harassment and violence, provide additional leave with pay for victims of such actions, and grant paid leave to fathers upon the birth of a child.

Specifically, the bill proposes that employers be given the legal right to transfer an employee who has harassed another worker to a different position or to terminate their employment contract.

Responding to a question from Deputy Saydullo Azimov regarding the potential violation of the presumption of innocence without a court decision, Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction Rano Turdiboeva explained that the employer could take such action based on a conclusion from a trade union organization or an objective internal investigation. A court decision could also serve as the basis for action if the victim of harassment or violence files a lawsuit to confirm the facts.

Deputy Jahongir Shirinov raised concerns again regarding the presumption of innocence. The ministry representative clarified that harassment and violence are being formally recognized as unlawful acts in the Labor Code.

"No administrative or criminal responsibility is being established here. This provision grants the employer the right, not the obligation, to take action. The Labor Code already has procedures for determining guilt in cases of unlawful conduct. A service investigation is one such mechanism, along with other mechanisms outlined in an organization’s internal regulations," he explained.

Cases of workplace harassment or violence would be reviewed by an ethics commission or with the involvement of a union representative.

Speaker of the Legislative Chamber Nuriddin Ismailov stressed the need to clearly define what constitutes harassment and violence in labor relations.

The draft law also includes measures to protect the rights and interests of employees who are victims of harassment or violence. Such victims may be granted additional leave with full pay.

Moreover, the bill proposes recognizing individuals affected by domestic violence as a socially vulnerable group, offering them additional state employment guarantees.

In addition, the draft law introduces five days of paid paternity leave for fathers following the birth of a child.

Currently, pregnant women and women with children under the age of three can be employed for night work only with a medical certificate confirming that the job does not pose a risk to their health or the health of their child. This provision is also set to be extended to fathers (or individuals acting in the place of parents).

"There are situations where a child lives with the father. We are introducing this provision because, until now, men could not go on business trips due to this reason," said Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction Rano Turdiboeva.

A total of 111 deputies voted in favor of approving the draft law in the first reading, 12 voted against, 6 abstained, and 9 did not cast their votes.