More than 29,000 people with disabilities are ready to work

A round table discussion entitled ‘Realising the labour rights of persons with disabilities’ was held in Bishkek, focusing on expanding employment and creating an inclusive working environment. Representatives of the state, international organisations and employers took part in the discussion.

Deputy Minister of Labour Ainura Orozbaeva noted that there are more than 221,000 people with disabilities living in Kyrgyzstan, of whom about 29,000 are ready to work.

Particular attention was paid to changes in the Labour Code. Organisations with 25 or more employees are now required to allocate at least 4% of jobs to people with disabilities, including flexible schedules and part-time employment.

Statistics confirm the effectiveness of these measures: in the first nine months of 2025, 221 people with disabilities were employed, almost twice as many as in 2020, and 119 received vocational training. The Social Contract programme supported the self-employment of more than 3,000 people with disabilities.

The minister also highlighted the Chexiz initiative, which encourages employers to create inclusive workplaces: more than 300 companies took part, and 80 were awarded the title of Best Employer.