For many years, women’s participation in Uzbekistan’s transport sector was restricted by legislation that prohibited them from driving passenger vehicles with more than 14 seats and freight vehicles exceeding 2.5 tons. These legal barriers effectively excluded women from working as bus and heavy truck drivers, reinforcing gender imbalances in a sector traditionally dominated by men and limiting employment demand for women regardless of their interest or capability.
Analytical studies conducted under the UNDP/GEF-supported “Tashkent – Accelerating Investment in Low-Emission Vehicles” project demonstrated that the primary obstacle to women’s entry into transport professions was regulatory, rather than a lack of skills or motivation. In response, the project, working closely with the Ministry of Transport, supported evidence-based policy reforms aimed at dismantling these long-standing restrictions and opening the sector to women.
These reforms were aligned with Uzbekistan’s broader legal and policy commitments to gender equality, including constitutional guarantees of equal rights and opportunities for women and men, as well as the 2019 presidential decree that called for the removal of employment restrictions on women and strengthened protections for women’s labour rights. Together, these measures established the legal foundation for transformative change in the transport sector.
In 2024, legislative restrictions affecting women’s employment in transport were fully abolished through Government Resolution No. 85, formally allowing women to work as bus and heavy truck drivers. This decision marked a historic milestone, reflecting Uzbekistan’s growing commitment to inclusive labour markets and equal access to economic opportunities.
Following the reform, the country recorded a symbolic breakthrough with the hiring of its first two female bus drivers by the Tashkent Bus Company. This development illustrated how policy change can translate into tangible employment outcomes and challenge entrenched gender norms within traditionally male-dominated professions.
Beyond legal reform, targeted efforts focused on ensuring women could access these new opportunities in practice. Through cooperation between UNDP and the Ministry of Transport, capacity-building initiatives were introduced to support women’s professional training. Under the TAILEV project, funding was allocated to sponsor 50 women to undertake certified bus driver training programmes.
To date, 20 women have completed their training and are preparing to sit official examinations required to obtain Category “D” driving licenses, which will qualify them for employment as professional bus and heavy vehicle drivers. Their achievements were formally recognised during a certification ceremony involving national training institutions and UNDP representatives, highlighting their role as pioneers and role models for future entrants.
The removal of legal barriers has also expanded women’s employment prospects beyond urban public transport. As Uzbekistan’s economy and trade networks grow, demand for skilled drivers in freight and logistics is increasing, enabling women to participate in both domestic and international transport services and diversify career pathways within the sector.
Overall, these developments signal a systemic shift toward greater gender inclusivity in Uzbekistan’s transport sector. By combining legal reform, skills development, and institutional cooperation, the UNDP/GEF-supported initiative demonstrates how targeted interventions can promote decent work, advance gender mainstreaming, and create lasting change in traditionally male-dominated industries.
