On May 12–13, Tashkent hosted the third traditional festival 'For People — 2026', organized by the National Agency for Social Protection under the President. The event featured social enterprises and entrepreneurs employing persons with disabilities, showcasing their products and services. As a result of trade exhibitions and business meetings, 3,200 contracts worth a total of 230 billion soums were signed.
According to Jahongir Bahromov, a specialist at the agency, Uzbekistan has 1.06 million persons with disabilities, of whom over 600,000 are of working age, and 234,000 are employed. The largest share works in the textile industry; brands such as Korzinka, KFC, Safia, and Poytaxt Parking also hire them. The average salary in 2025 was 3.2 million soums, rising to 3.8 million soums in 2026, with some earning 5–10 million soums.
About 3,000 graduates with disabilities enter the labor market annually. Since the 2018/2019 academic year, 2% of university admission quotas are reserved for them, resulting in 25,000 higher education specialists. The number of inclusive enterprises grew from 27,000 in 2025 to 38,000 in 2026, and private enterprises from 21,000 to 30,000.
Entrepreneurs enjoy benefits: social tax rate of 1%, single tax payment of 1%, exemption from property and land taxes, and subsidies for equipment, raw materials, rent, wages, and loan interest.
Risolat Abdukarimova, head of 'Urganch Yuksalish', employs 32 persons with disabilities out of 37 workers. She started sewing in 2016, now produces bed linens and workwear, exporting to Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. She uses individual communication, psychological support, stipends, and gifts school uniforms to workers' children. Wages are piece-rate: from 1.5 to 10 million soums.
Hakimjon Khalilov from Namangan, head of 'Farovon Nafis Dizayn Servis' LLC, runs greenhouses where 15 persons with disabilities work. Since 2024, he hires them, assigning two assistants per disabled worker. Average salary is 4.5 million soums. He received a 50 million soum subsidy to pay a psychologist. At the festival, he signed contracts worth 1.3 billion soums.
Sherzod Hoshimov, head of 'Dizayn Print' under the Uzbekistan Society of the Blind, was awarded 'Inclusive Employer — 2026'. The company has 45 employees, 25 with disabilities (mostly visually impaired). It produces Braille books and textbooks. Salaries range from 4 to 15 million soums. The enterprise is exempt from property tax and VAT. At the festival, it received orders worth 5.5 billion soums.
The festival promotes employment of persons with disabilities, supports social enterprises, and fosters an inclusive environment. Entrepreneurs leverage state benefits to boost disability employment.
Source: www.gazeta.uz