Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice has drafted a bill titled “On Holidays” that would establish a list of nine nationwide public holidays with non-working-day status, as well as 23 professional holidays. The draft has been published for public consultation on the SOVAZ portal, with comments accepted until November 4.
The bill sets out procedures for organising and holding nationwide and professional holidays, as well as commemorative and international dates. These include events of national, historical, social, cultural, professional and other significance to society and the state.
The proposed list of nationwide holidays designated as non-working days includes New Year’s Day on January 1, Women’s Day on March 8, Navruz on March 21, Remembrance and Honour Day on May 9, Independence Day on September 1, Teachers and Mentors Day on October 1, and Uzbekistan Constitution Day on December 8. The list also includes the first days of the religious holidays of Ramadan Hayit (Eid al-Fitr) and Kurban Hayit (Eid al-Adha).
A separate list covers 23 professional holidays. In January, Prosecutor’s Office Employees Day would be observed on January 8 and State Customs Service Employees Day on January 26. Transport Workers Day is proposed for February 1, Mahalla System Workers Day for March 22, and Geology Industry Workers Day for the first Sunday in April.
April would also include Culture and Arts Workers Day on April 15 and Housing and Utilities Workers Day on April 18. The May calendar includes Information and Communication Technology Workers Day on May 7 and Mining and Metallurgy Industry Workers Day, observed on the third Sunday of the month.
In June, the proposed dates are Archive Workers Day on June 9, Press and Mass Media Workers Day on June 27, and Trade, Consumer Cooperation and Public Services Workers Day on the last Sunday of the month.
The August calendar includes National Guard Employees Day on August 4, Entrepreneurs Day on August 20, Railway Workers Day on the first Sunday of the month and Construction Industry Workers Day on the second Sunday. Uzbekistan Air Fleet Day would be observed on the third Sunday in August.
The autumn calendar provides for State Security Service Employees Day on September 26, Uzbekistan Rescuers Day on October 20, Internal Affairs Bodies Employees Day on October 25 and Uzbekistan Trade Unions Day on November 11. Medical Workers Day would be observed on the second Sunday in November, while Agricultural Workers Day is proposed for the second Sunday in December.
Under the draft, commemorative events marking significant dates could be established by presidential decrees and resolutions. The Cabinet of Ministers would determine which international dates are observed in the country, taking into account national, historical and other values.
The organisation of nationwide holidays would be assigned to the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan, the Tashkent city and regional administrations, and the relevant state bodies. Professional holidays would be organised by the relevant ministries, agencies, organisations and their subdivisions.
Expenses for holiday events would be covered by additional local budget revenues, budgetary and extra-budgetary funds of state bodies, donations and other lawful sources of income.
Employers would also be permitted to pay employees incentive bonuses for holidays, even if such payments are not предусмотрены under the existing remuneration system. The procedure for granting the bonuses would have to comply with labour legislation.
If adopted, the law would enter into force three months after its official publication. The bill must first be signed by the president.