Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec. 5 / Trend D.Azizov /
On Wednesday, the plenary session of Uzbek Senate approved a programme of job creation and employment for 2013.
According to the statements of senators, the results on the creation of jobs in the past and the present needs in the labour market and priorities of socio-economic development have been considered during development of the programme. The programme is also closely linked to the regional development programmes of particular areas.
The document is focused on the priority development of small businesses, increasing the role of farming, support for the service industry, social and market infrastructure and other effective forms of employment, including the cottage industry and crafts.
The programme also provides employment opportunities for graduates of professional colleges and universities, women, the disabled and other categories of people in need of social protection, as well as the rural population.
The programme envisages the creation of 972.700 new jobs in total.
Reportedly, the job creation and employment programme for 2012 provided for the creation of 967.500 new jobs. Some 773.000 jobs have been created in January-September this year.
According to official statistics, the number of citizens registered in the labour agencies as job seekers in late September was 18.000 compared to 24.100 during the same period in 2011.
The number of unemployed, defined by 'Methods of calculating the unemployed in need of employment' and approved by the government in January - September 2012 was 621.700, or 4.8 per cent of the economically active population.