Uzbekistan’s Law on Social Work, which establishes a unified system of services and assistance, took effect on July 23, the official legal record shows.
Social work will be organized in healthcare, education, social protection, employment, courts, law enforcement and penal institutions. The National Agency for Social Protection under the president is the specially authorized body.
The law divides social services and assistance into three levels:
- Primary support — early assistance, prevention of difficult life circumstances and help at the person’s place of residence.
- Specialized support — coordinated assistance from relevant professionals based on the needs of a person or family.
- Highly specialized support — continuous medical and social services and care in an institution or at home with a mobile team.
Services may be provided at home, including online, in a mahalla or at a service provider’s institution. The level and location will depend on the needs of the person or family.
Need may be assessed using income, living conditions, employment and other indicators, as well as an application, information from third parties or media reports. The Cabinet of Ministers will set the eligibility criteria.
An application and consent from the recipient or their legal representative will normally form the basis for support. In urgent cases, assistance may be provided without consent.
The Social Inspectorate under the National Agency for Social Protection will oversee compliance with the law and service quality standards. Most provisions have applied since July 23, while rules on the provider register and service standards take effect on January 1, 2027.
