Uzbekistan: The salaries of state employees in Samarqand are transferred to bank cards
In the Samarqand Oblast of Uzbekistan the August salary of employees of state education, healthcare and other government-sponsored areas were fully transferred to bank cards without their consent.
The Ferghana.Ru source in Samarqand informs that the Oblast khokimiat (administration) gathered the heads of oblast and city administrations of education that were given the following warning: "If any of your employees is not happy with salary payment we will apply strict measures against you".
Recently the local authorities forced the educators to sign statements, in accordance with which they agreed transfer half of the salary to bank cards (effective of September). Such method of salary payment is utterly inconvenient in Samarqand since there are only few shops where you can use plastic cards that significantly limit the selection of goods. Moreover, the prices at these places are significantly higher and there are no price tags. If the customer uses his card he is also charged "commission" of 2-10 percent.
The residents of Samarqand mainly prefer to buy vegetables, fruits, meat, bread, clothes and other stuff at bazaars where there are more options and lower prices. However, all these places, including public transportation, pharmacies and so on, require cash payments. Cash can be withdrawn in the bank only; in June the withdrawal fee reached 10 percent, July – 15 percent and August – 20 percent. The commission is charged unofficially; if you do not agree to pay you will hear "No cash is available".
According to the source in Samarqand, since springs the salaries of state employees have been delayed for 1.5-2 months. Moreover, the parts of salaries stay at bank cards, accounting offices. Some money is forcedly directed to the payment of utility services regardless of the fact that the person could pay for utilities one year ahead. Such deductions have been in practice for the second year in a row. As a result, on average every state employee receives only one third of accrued salary.
The authorities also involved child support money. In September the Samarqand financial department introduced special form for each family, receiving child support for 2-16 year old kids. The forms are filled out by mahallah committees on a monthly basis in cooperation with utility enterprise. If the family has debts on apartment, gas or electricity the accounting office deducts appropriate amounts from child support money. The same mechanism is applied towards senior citizens. By the way, according to the local rumors, the pension payments will be also transferred to bank cards.
