Uzbekistan Plans to Raise Minimum Retirement Age

Uzbekistan is considering increasing the minimum retirement age, according to Murodbek Otajonov, Executive Director of the Pension Fund.

Under the proposed pension reform, the retirement age for men would increase from 60 to 63, and for women from 55 to 58. The change is expected to be implemented gradually - adding six months each year, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

Otajonov noted that in many countries, the minimum retirement age is above 65. In Uzbekistan, however, the retirement age has remained unchanged for 32 years since the adoption of the Law on State Pension Provision of Citizens. “Uzbekistan is the only one left - other countries have already raised the retirement age,” he said.

The official also pointed out that life expectancy in the country is rising. According to the Ministry of Health, average life expectancy in Uzbekistan has now reached 75 years.

Otajonov stressed that no final decision has yet been made on the retirement age increase. The Pension Fund plans to launch a special online platform to collect public proposals on pension reform. Suggestions will be accepted for one month, after which they will be reviewed, discussed again, and - if necessary - adjusted before the pension reform project is officially presented to the public.

In addition, Otajonov said a softer option is also being considered - raising the retirement age by three months each year instead of six. In this case, the retirement age would increase by one year every four years, with the reform taking 12 years to complete.