Abstract:

Care economy development is a significant economic challenge for all Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, directly impacting economic indicators such as poverty, incomes, employment, and economic growth.

Since 2017, the Government of Uzbekistan has been implementing large-scale reforms in the areas of social protection, poverty reduction, population employment, and childcare. Current trends in population aging, rising birth rates, and the possible increase in the retirement age in Uzbekistan could increase the demand for care services and rise the burden on the undeveloped care sector.

In the scope of this research, we are studying the care economy in Uzbekistan, encompassing all forms of paid and unpaid caregiving activities both in-home and institutional settings, provided by the public and private sectors as well as family members. We conduct an analysis of available data on the care system in Uzbekistan, primary data gathered through in-depth interviews with experts and the population in various regions to identify gaps in the country's care economy hindering the equitable distribution of unpaid household labor and ensuring decent employment for caregivers. It has been identified that care for children under 3 years old and elderly individuals represents the least developed area of the care system in the country; unpaid care at home is the most common form of care predominantly provided by women, while paid care is largely informal. Based on the analysis conducted, we develop recommendations for improving the care economy that could be integrated into broader policies on employment, formalizing labor, and expanding economic opportunities for women.