International Labour Organization admits the progress of Uzbekistan in the sphere of labour relations
14/12/2018 15:46
International Labour Organization admits the progress of Uzbekistan in the sphere of labour relations
14/12/2018 15:46
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The international conference “The Future of the Labour Sphere: Initiatives to Ensure Worthy Employment on the Eve of the 100th Anniversary of the International Labour Organization” gathered government delegations from various countries and labour experts from international organizations.
The ILO delegation headed by Guy Ryder, the ILO Director General, was comprised of Heinz Köller - the Director of the ILO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Olga Kulayeva - the Director of the ILO Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Mikhail Pushkin – a chief specialist on employment issues at the ILO office.
The Ministers of Labour of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, as well as the Deputy Minister of Azerbaijan, Vice-Minister of Kazakhstan, First Deputy head of the Migration Service of the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of Tajikistan, Deputy Minister of Turkmenistan and Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs protection of the Russian Federation participated in this conference.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has been researching on the situation with cotton-picking since 2013. Preliminary results of the monitoring publicly announced on November 21 specify that 93% of the gatherers voluntarily participated in this process and the government of Uzbekistan enforced the punishment of officials for unlawful force to pick cotton during the cotton campaign in 2018. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection have been used, over 11000 interviews in the fields and in terms of the focus groups, in-depth interviews and telephone surveys have been made during the research. In particular, only in September-November 3 000 cotton gatherers have been surveyed.
According to the monitoring data, this year no systematic involvement of students, teachers and medical staff in cotton-picking process has been witnessed. It is emphasized that the progress achieved is the result of measures undertaken at the highest governmental level.
“Including the conference in Uzbekistan in the number of events held in honour of the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization demonstrates that the international community has recognized and appreciated the progress of Uzbekistan in the sphere of labour relations. The visit of Guy Ryder, the ILO Director General to our country has become possible only due to the elimination of child and forced labour in cotton-picking process. In 2018, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations continued to closely monitor cotton-picking to be voluntary and based on economic incentives. For example, the government raised the tariff for manual cotton picking by 30% in comparison with 2017, determined wage premiums for limited-exceeding figures, and abolished the 8% deductions of the insurance premium withheld to the pension fund. In total, over 2,6 trillion UZS were paid to the cotton gatherers for the 2018 season.
About 200 inspectors of the state labour inspectorate continuously monitored and responded to citizens’ appeals about forced labour. 2254 appeals were submitted to the helpline and the Telegram channel of the Ministry in September - November 2018. 284 cases of forced cotton-picking were confirmed. In addition this year it was the first time when the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has cooperated with the human rights defenders to identify cases of violating the principle of voluntary cotton- picking. Following the results of inspections, over 200 managers were brought to responsibility in the form of administrative fines, downgrading and dismissals”- noted the press-service of the Ministry.
Panel discussions of the international conference were held with the participation of ministers on labour of the countries of Central and East Asia, representatives of the ILO, as well as speakers from UNDP, OSCE, UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration and the Asian Development Bank. Participants discussed the issues which are topical for both Uzbekistan and the world community, such as worthy work and employment, ensuring security and regulation of labour migration, as well as social protection of the population.
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