The world still suffers the pandemic, but most countries have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to learn how to live in a pandemic. Many states began to soften quarantine measures, while following the epidemiological requirements.

For example, in England, starting May 13, the government decided to slightly soften quarantine measures. People are allowed to go in for sports on the street, they are also allowed to travel to national parks or on the coast only inside England, but the ban on meeting people who do not live together has not been lifted.

Starting April 27, several European countries such as Austria, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands began to gradually soften the quarantine measures introduced for the population and the business because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Czech Republic was one of the first among the EU countries to open borders for its citizens. Now people can go abroad on vacation, but upon returning each citizen will have to pass a coronavirus test or spend two weeks in home quarantine. However, for foreigners, entry into the Czech Republic is still limited, exceptions are made for entrepreneurs from the European Union.

Starting April 13, the Spanish government has lifted restrictions on the work of enterprises operating in the industry and construction, subject to safety precautions. Starting from May 1, shops, hairdressing salons, nail salons and others began to work in Austria. All these mitigation measures are taken only subject to quarantine measures.

Uzbekistan has also begun to mitigate quarantine measures, taking into account the continued strict control of the epidemiological situation. On May 13, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconference at which the leader of the country noted that support for entrepreneurs and the population in the context of the coronavirus pandemic will continue and will not be limited to previously provided benefits.

At the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, reducing the social tax rate from 12 percent to 1 percent in May-July will save 650 billion UZS for small business and farmers and use them as capital and working capital.

Exemption from land tax and property tax over the next three months for individual entrepreneurs and small businesses will save 300 billion UZS of more than 50 thousand entrepreneurs.

It is planned to allocate another 200 billion UZS from the budget to support low-income families, as a result of which another 70 thousand families will receive benefits. Moreover, it is planned to expand the practice of providing loans to the population for construction and repair of individual housing, which will create about 10 thousand seasonal jobs.

The delay in the payment of customs payments up to 120 days will allow entrepreneurs to save significant funds and use these funds to develop their business.

In addition, due to the coronavirus pandemic, entrepreneurs will not be charged a penalty for April-May for entrepreneurs for late payments of land and property taxes, which will allow more than 1000 entrepreneurs to save 80 billion UZS and send them to support the business.

Earlier, on the initiative of the President of our country, to support the self-employment of the population, the creation of benefits and preferences for those who provide services remotely via the Internet, for example, tutoring, design, programming, advertising, is provided. Teaching handicrafts remotely will not only provide employment, but also the position of Uzbekistan in the foreign market. Assistance to the population in household plots for growing crops, organizing greenhouses and developing home-based labor. Currently, 85 types are allowed in Uzbekistan, and it is planned to expand this list.

All these additional measures, coupled with the creation of jobs and increasing self-employment of the population, will contribute to increasing the economic activity of industries, enterprises and the population as a whole.

Zukhra Shadiyeva,

Deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis,

Member of the faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan