Uzbekistan strengthens labour rights through union-led reforms

As Uzbekistan marks nan 120th day of its waste and acquisition national movement, attraction has turned from commemoration to consolidation.

The country’s unions, erstwhile seen arsenic ceremonial institutions, are progressively becoming progressive players successful shaping labour policy, supporting workplace reform, and helping equilibrium nan country’s accelerated economical translator pinch societal stability.

At a legislature of nan Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan (FTUU), delegates from crossed nan state joined world observers to measure advancement successful strengthening worker authorities and societal dialogue.

All participants underlined that Uzbekistan’s labour scenery is experiencing a profound transformation, driven by a activity of ineligible and organization reforms successful which waste and acquisition unions person taken an progressive role.

Central to this displacement is nan revised Labour Code of nan Republic of Uzbekistan, initiated successful 2019 and developed successful collaboration pinch nan International Labour Organization (ILO) and societal partners specified arsenic nan FTUU.

The caller Labour Code introduced clearer frameworks for employment contracts, corporate bargaining, and worker protection.

Among its astir important provisions are a ineligible request for adjacent salary betwixt men and women, arsenic good arsenic strengthened labour inspection and monitoring systems to heighten enforcement capacity. The codification besides builds upon nan ILO’s “Decent Work” schedule — pushing for safe moving conditions, general contracts, and societal protection.

Trade unions arsenic drivers of change

Uzbekistan’s waste and acquisition unions person evolved from mostly administrative entities into proactive agents of reform.

The FTUU has expanded its power beyond accepted public-sector workplaces to see nan backstage sector, seasonal cultivation labour, and informal employment. This description has supported nan formalisation of labour relations among susceptible groups.

Unions person go straight progressive successful monitoring information standards successful industries specified arsenic textiles and building — some awesome employers and historically high-risk sectors.

They person besides helped discuss sectoral societal agreements, contributed to minimum costs policy, and shaped occupational wellness reforms.

One actual result emerged successful nan backstage textile cluster adjacent Namangan, wherever national monitoring revealed gender-based salary disparities. Subsequent involution and soul audits led to costs adjustments for complete 400 women workers — a nonstop exertion of nan Labour Code’s equal-pay principle.

Social speech astatine nan halfway for reforms

Structured practice among government, employers, and workers has go a cornerstone of Uzbekistan’s labour betterment agenda.

The National Council connected Social Partnership of nan Republic of Uzbekistan now serves arsenic a level to deliberate connected minimum costs policy, vocational training, occupational safety, and corporate bargaining.

According to ILO assessments, this tripartite system now aligns much intimately pinch world conventions. Both nan FTUU and employers’ organisations person been strengthened to prosecute efficaciously wrong it.

For example, successful 2023, nan Council’s tripartite speech led to a 12% summation successful nan minimum costs for nan fabric sector, effective from 1 January 2024, benefitting astir 300,000 cultivation workers, according to nan Ministry of Labour of Uzbekistan.

At nan location level, societal speech continues to expand. “Our unions are committed to ensuring that each sound is heard — from ample enterprises to mini workshops,” says Nodira Voytinozarova, caput of section astatine nan FTUU. “Dialogue is nan only measurement to forestall disputes earlier they escalate and to guarantee a sustainable and inclusive labour environment.”

Advancing nan “Decent Work” agenda

Akiko Gono, President of nan International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), has commended Uzbekistan for aligning nationalist labour policies pinch world standards.

“Over nan past decade, Uzbekistan has made singular advancement successful aligning its labour policies pinch nan principles of nan International Labour Organization,” Gono stated. “Trade unions play an basal domiciled successful protecting nan rights, health, and dignity of workers and their families, engaging successful societal dialogue, and contributing to nan country’s sustainable development.”

Recent information underscores this progress. The World Bank notes that costs and salaried employment is rising, while nan state has implemented “bold reforms” to fortify societal protection and create amended jobs.

According to Okhundjon Isaev, Head of nan Department for nan Protection of Socio-Economic Interests of Workers astatine nan FTUU: “During nan past 5 years, important results person been achieved. Social speech has continued to develop, alongside constructive practice betwixt nan government, employers’ organizations, and waste and acquisition unions.”

Unions now thief show labour contracts, support formalisation successful agriculture and manufacturing, and play an progressive domiciled successful inspection and grievance mechanisms, peculiarly concerning occupational wellness and safety. Their defense besides extends to women, persons pinch disabilities, and informal and seasonal workers.

Why it matters for investors and business

For businesses and investors, Uzbekistan’s evolving labour model represents some advancement and opportunity. A stronger labour-rights system, supported by trade-union oversight, reduces nan risks of disputes, reputational harm, and compliance failures.

Greater formalisation of employment and improved inspection mechanisms besides thief companies meet world supply-chain standards, peculiarly successful cardinal export sectors for illustration textiles and agribusiness.