Prioritizing Care Policies within the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection in Uzbekistan
0-1 Original language
English
I-1 Name of the initiative
Prioritizing Care Policies within the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection in Uzbekistan
I-2 Geographical coverage
UZB
I-2-A Region/country
Uzbekistan
I-2-R Region
Europe and Central Asia
I-2-T Geographical scope
Country
I-3-A Initiative start date
2023
I-4 Leading entity/organization
Government
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Employer and Business Membership Organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Workers' organization
I-6 Has the ILO been involved in the initiative?
Yes
I-6-A Specify how the ILO was involved
As the main UN agency leading the discussion on the Global Accelerator, the ILO has provided regular technical assistance in the development of the Uzbek government's roadmap and policy support in the development of national legislation on the care economy.
I-7 Is there collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations System or other partners?
Yes
I-7-A Specify agency names
UNRCO, UNICEF, UNDP and UN Women
II-1 Justification of the initiative
The Government of Uzbekistan has initiated significant reforms that reflect the Government's vision of the decent work agenda. National legislation adopted in recent years clearly demonstrates the Government's commitment to developing a gender-responsive environment for women, improving women's livelihoods and promoting gender equality and non-discrimination in the world of work. However, despite the positive steps taken by the Government, gender segregation in occupations remains high, with women workers mostly concentrated in education, health and social services, and the prevalence of women in the informal economy remains high due to the lack of accessible and affordable social services, unequal division of labour within the household due to gender norms assigning family responsibilities to women and deep-rooted stereotypes on women’s employment.To accelerate the efforts of Uzbekistan to create decent work for all, extend social protection and promote just transitions, the Government of Uzbekistan joined to the UN Global Accelerator (GA) initiative as a pathfinder country in August 2023 and established a National Coordination Council chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister to steer the national process of the GA Roadmap development and its implementation.
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
Education
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
Human health and social work activities
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Cooperatives
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Social enterprises
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Employees
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Employers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Domestic workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Community health and care workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Childcare workers (for children ages 0-start of primary school)
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Personal care and/or assistance workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Workers in the informal economy
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Women
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Men
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Mothers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Fathers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Persons with other care responsibilities
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
People with disabilities
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, through social dialogue
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, inter-institutional coordination mechanisms
II-2 Objectives and description of the initiative
As part of the UN Global Accelerator roadmap, the Government of Uzbekistan has identified priority areas, including job creation and extension of social protection to rural workers and their families, capacity building of national social protection and employment institutions, digitalisation, investment in the energy sector in the context of the green transition, transition to formality and investment in the care economy. Recognition and formalisation of care workers, expansion of childcare services, changing social norms on childcare are among the actions highlighted in the roadmap. The inclusion of the care economy in the government's GA roadmap is linked to the government's ongoing efforts to reduce gaps in the care economy and increase women's employment. In 2022, the government joined 150 countries in signing UNESCO's Tashkent Declaration, which sets the international agenda for early childhood care and education (ECCE). The Declaration clearly addresses the ILO's Decent Work Agenda by integrating a rights-based approach, including the wages and working conditions of care workers (ECCE staff), and recognising core labour rights and social dialogue and the right to collective bargaining.
II-3 Type of initiative
National/local law
II-3 Type of initiative
Policy / strategy
II-3 Type of initiative
Programme
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Recognition, reduction and redistribution of unpaid care
II-5 Which is the main policy area of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Care policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Employment policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Skills policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Social Protection policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Labour Protection policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Design and implement integrated and coherent care policies and systems for decent work and gender equality
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Formalization of informal care jobs and enterprises
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Promoting active labour market policies, education and training, upskilling and re-skilling, skills recognition and skills certification
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Addressing the undervaluation of care work by raising public awareness
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Addressing the unequal gender distribution of paid and unpaid work, and promoting women’s economic inclusion and autonomy beyond caregiving
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Comprehensive maternity protection and care leave and protection policies, including paternity, parental leave and long-term care leave
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Universal social protection systems that provide adequate protection to care workers and recognize unpaid care work
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Create an enabling and conducive environment for sustainable enterprises and SSE entities
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Invest in and make available high-quality, affordable, adequate and accessible care services, including childcare, health care and long-term care
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Enhancing the availability of assistance and support services for persons with disabilities to promote individual autonomy and independence
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Ensuring effective access to labour protection and social security, including through labour inspection, for all care workers
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and SSE entities that deliver quality care services
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Unpaid carers (workers or persons with care responsibilities, parents, other family members, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Paid care workers (nurses, domestic workers, teachers, childcare workers, personal assistants, etc.)
II-9 Geographical scope
Urban and rural
III-1 In a short paragraph, summarize the main results and impacts obtained
Ongoing ILO technical assistance on promoting decent work for care workers and investing in the care economy has resulted in: The adoption of targeted actions on decent work for care workers and investment in childcare services as part of the UN Global Accelerator roadmap (2024).Ratification of ILO Convention No.156 (2024)Draft amendments to the Labour Code to include paid paternity leave.Promote tripartite dialogue on investing in the care economy, extending maternity protection and tackling the gender pay gap.
III-2 Explanation of the innovative element of the initiative for advancing decent work in the care economy
As part of the implementation of the GA Roadmap and in support of the Government's ongoing efforts, the ILO carries out activities that address structural and root causes of gender inequalities in the world of work, and promote innovative solutions. The initiative introduces innovative approaches such as engaging men in care responsibilities, supporting the transition of care workers from informality to formal employment, and fostering cooperative models (care COOPs) that ensure decent work for care workers, including domestic workers. The ILO has initiated a dialogue with the Government to establish skills development programmes and guarantee decent working conditions and full social protection for domestic workers. The initiative leverages the platform of the UN Global Accelerator to combine awareness on international standards (such as C183) with practical pathways—such as family-friendly policies and cooperative formalisation—that create sustainable, decent work opportunities.
IV-1 What were the main challenges or difficulties during the design and implementation? How were they faced/ addressed?
One of the main challenges in designing and implementing the GA Roadmap and the joint programme was ensuring effective coordination among the many UN agencies involved. Each agency had its own agenda and country programme, which sometimes made alignment difficult. This was addressed through regular inter-agency consultations and joint planning mechanisms that helped build consensus and maintain coherence in implementation.
IV-2 Lessons learned and good practices, including room and opportunities for improvement
A key lesson learned is that involving workers' and employers' organisations from the outset is very important. , As they have a crucial role to play in implementing legislative changes and national programmes through tripartite and bilateral agreements, their early engagement strengthens ownership and ensures smoother implementation.
IV-3 Key conditions for success
Close coordination and regular dialogue with sister UN agencies is essential to avoid duplication and to increase outreach and impact.
IV-4 Key conditions for sustainability
Legislative changes, coupled with concerted action by UN agencies on the ground, are a key factor in sustainability. Furthermore, engagement and coordination with constituents at all levels is very critical, which helps ensure that reforms are owned, implemented, and maintained over the long term.
V-1 Sources of information and documents used on the characteristics of the initiative, including links to websites, news items, toolkits, policy documents or reports
Uzbekistan identifies national priorities for the implementation of the Global Accelerator