Forced Labor - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 11

Forced Labor

ILO Urges Turkmenistan to Abolish Cotton Quota System

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has again criticized Turkmenistan over the continued use of forced labor in its cotton sector, calling on the country to dismantle its state-imposed cotton quota system and submit a detailed progress report by September 1. The call followed discussions at the annual International Labour Conference in Geneva, where the ILO’s Committee on the Application of Standards reviewed Turkmenistan’s compliance with Convention No. 105 on the Abolition of Forced Labour. This was the fifth time Turkmenistan’s implementation of the convention had been examined by the committee. The country ratified the convention in 1997, but concerns persist over the mobilization of public-sector employees for the annual cotton harvest. Turkmenistan’s delegation was led by Khalbibi Tachjanova, deputy minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population, who reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the convention and outlined reforms introduced in recent years. Tachjanova cited amendments to the Labor Code imposing a full ban on child and forced labor, as well as a draft presidential decree intended to explicitly prohibit any form of coercion during the cotton harvest. According to Tachjanova, labor inspectors carried out 3,867 inspections in 2025, identifying violations in 2,352 cases and imposing 3,040 administrative sanctions. She also said wages in the sector had doubled between 2023 and 2024 as part of the reforms. Yusup Gylychdurdiyev, a senior official from the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, spoke for employers. He said the country’s 340 dehkan farmer associations were gradually moving into private management structures and argued that private businesses lacked the administrative tools to coerce workers. Mekan Ovezov of the National Trade Union Center spoke for workers and cited cooperation between trade unions, government agencies, employers, and the ILO, as well as training and labor rights programs. However, labor and employer representatives on the ILO committee gave a far more critical assessment. Canadian labor lawyer Jackie VanDerMeulen, speaking for employer members, noted that the ILO had already issued observations on Turkmenistan’s cotton sector nine times. She said that despite some positive changes, the 2025 monitoring results showed serious violations remain. Stephen Russell, representing the United Kingdom’s Trades Union Congress, said labor rights abuses persist and pointed to the lack of independent public monitoring mechanisms and the absence of independent trade unions in the country. The findings show that Turkmenistan remains under international scrutiny over one of its most important export industries. Observers continue to call for changes in a sector long associated with state-driven labor mobilization.

Textile industry

Turkmenistan Showcases Textile Industry as Labor Concerns Linger

Textile executives from Asia and Europe will gather this week at an event in Turkmenistan, which says it is aligning its textile industry with international standards despite continuing concerns about labor conditions during the annual cotton harvest. More than 30 Turkmen firms are registered to participate in the TurkmenTextile Expo in Ashgabat on June 4-6, according to event organizers. More than 40 companies from China, Turkey, and Italy are also listed as Turkmenistan seeks to upgrade an industry that is critical to the national economy. Discussion topics include brand strategies, the new textile technology for deriving fibers from algae, and the role of traditional textiles in contemporary art and fashion in Central Asia. There will be a fashion show and a presentation about the Eurasian Council for Craft & Design, a platform that was launched this year to promote regional designers and artisans. Katharina Schaus, the German founder of a consultancy called it fits – Organic Textile Partner, will speak about international trends in sustainable cotton production and textile certification. Another speaker, Carola Deiners, will address “responsible sourcing and the expectations of international buyers.” There have long been international concerns and calls for boycotts because of the reported mobilization of public employees and the use of forced labor, including children, in the annual cotton harvest in Turkmenistan. While the government has promised to improve working conditions and has collaborated with international inspectors, critics point to periodic state denials of the problem and an alleged gap between labor rules and their implementation. This year, the International Labour Organization, or ILO, said in a report on the 2025 harvest in Turkmenistan that there had been some progress on working conditions, particularly remuneration, but that some contractual protections and safety and health measures were still lacking. The report said there was still public employee involvement in the harvest and reported recruitment through workplace or administrative channels, as well as the perception of negative consequences for refusal to work in cotton. There was “a clear increase in children’s presence in cotton fields compared to 2024, despite strengthened legal prohibitions,” according to the report. Turkmenistan, meanwhile, has said it is increasing investment in spinning, weaving, knitwear, sewing production, and other aspects of its textile industry. Part of that effort has included the introduction of new production technologies from top textile companies in Japan and Europe. While there is a strong focus on exports, Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Textile Industry launched an online store called Dokma as part of a plan to digitalize the domestic economy. Through Dokma, state media reported last year, “customers can order hundreds of types of textile and leather footwear products — from enterprises within the ministry’s system as well as from private producers.”

Forced Labor

Turkmen State Employees Forced Back Into Cotton Harvest Campaign

The authorities in Turkmenistan have again mobilized public-sector employees for the annual cotton harvest, forcing teachers, doctors, municipal workers, and other state employees either to work in the fields or pay for replacement laborers from their own salaries. The renewed campaign comes as international brands continue to face growing risks that what activists describe as “toxic” Turkmen cotton may still be entering global supply chains. According to Dialectic, the authorities have abandoned even the limited relaxations introduced in some regions during previous harvest seasons. Cotton remains one of Turkmenistan’s key export commodities. Each year, the state sets a harvest target of roughly 1.25 million tons of raw cotton from approximately 580,000 hectares of farmland. State procurement prices for farmers remain extremely low. The government currently pays around 5,000 manat per ton of first-pass medium-fiber cotton, about $256 using the unofficial exchange rate. Against a backdrop of deteriorating agricultural infrastructure, soil degradation, and declining yields, the authorities are continuing to compensate for structural problems in the sector through the mobilization of state employees. According to the report, the system remains largely unchanged. Employees of schools, hospitals, utility services and cultural institutions are ordered either to participate personally in the cotton harvest or hire replacement workers using their own wages. Refusal, sources say, can result in dismissal, financial penalties, or other administrative consequences. Monitors also report the continued use of child labor. Although Turkmen law prohibits involving anyone under the age of 18 in cotton harvesting, poverty and quota pressure push some families to bring children into the fields. The harvested cotton subsequently enters international supply chains through third countries. Turkey and Pakistan remain the largest transit and processing hubs for Turkmen cotton products. According to the publication, Turkish enterprises alone imported $96.6 million worth of Turkmen cotton products in 2024, while Pakistani companies imported an additional $33.8 million. After processing, both raw materials and finished textile products are exported to European Union markets, including Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Bulgaria. International experts say this stage of the supply chain presents the greatest risks for global apparel brands. Despite commitments by more than 140 international companies to avoid Turkmen cotton, products made with such raw materials may still be entering the supply chains of some of the world’s largest clothing manufacturers. The government in Ashgabat continues to deny allegations of forced mobilization, insisting that participation in the cotton harvest is voluntary. However, according to the report, attempts by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to conduct independent monitoring during 2024-2025 were accompanied by route restrictions and carefully staged official demonstrations. International pressure on Turkmenistan’s cotton sector has nevertheless continued to increase. The United States banned imports of Turkmen cotton and cotton products in 2018. In addition, the EU’s Forced Labour Regulation is due to apply from December 2027, banning products made with forced labor from the EU market regardless of origin. Inside Turkmenistan, however, little appears to be changing for public-sector workers. The annual autumn cotton campaign remains a heavy burden for those forced...

Forced Labor

Forced Labor in Turkmenistan the Target of New EU-ILO Project

A new joint project is being launched by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union aimed at combating child and forced labor in Turkmenistan. Its focus is primarily on the country’s cotton sector, which has long faced criticism from human rights groups and international companies. The ILO announced the initiative on May 13. The program, titled Promoting Decent Work and Preventing Child and Forced Labour in Turkmenistan, is scheduled to run from 2026 to 2027 with the project’s budget estimated at approximately €2 million ($2.3 million). The initiative will focus on three main areas: updating labor legislation, implementing international labor standards, and strengthening institutional oversight mechanisms for the protection of workers’ rights. Organizers say the project’s ultimate goal is to prevent labor rights violations and create a more sustainable system for monitoring working conditions across the country. The initiative is directly linked to longstanding concerns over forced labor during Turkmenistan’s annual cotton harvest. Human rights organizations including turkmen.news, the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights, Progres Foundation, and the Cotton Campaign previously released a joint report alleging that Turkmen authorities have only partially fulfilled commitments to reform the sector. According to the report, despite an official ban on child labor, minors continue to participate in cotton harvesting campaigns. Rights groups say some children assist relatives in meeting production quotas, while others work in the fields because of difficult economic conditions facing their families. The report also alleged that teachers, medical workers, utility employees, and other public-sector staff continue to be mobilized for cotton harvesting under state direction. The launch of the new project was discussed during a special event in Ashgabat attended by Turkmen Deputy Labor and Social Protection Minister Halbibi Tachjanova. “This project reflects Turkmenistan’s strong commitment to preventing child and forced labor, especially in the cotton sector, and to promoting decent working conditions,” Tachjanova said. European Union Ambassador to Turkmenistan Beata Pexa said the initiative should contribute to protecting labor rights and supporting sustainable economic development. However, it remains unclear whether the program will include mechanisms allowing workers subjected to forced labor to safely file complaints without fear of retaliation. The issue carries not only social but also economic significance for Turkmenistan. Cotton and textile products remain among the country’s key exports and an important source of foreign currency revenue. Both state authorities and private companies have been seeking to expand access to Western markets. In May, the textile company Batly Gadam from Balkanabat held talks with British retailer Primark and signed a memorandum of cooperation with Somerbond in London. Nevertheless, many international brands continue to avoid Turkmen textiles because of allegations involving forced labor practices. Against this backdrop, the new ILO-EU project is being viewed not only as an effort to prevent forced labor in Turkmenistan but also as a step toward rebuilding trust with international partners and global markets.

Cotton Industry

Uzbekistan’s Cotton Sector: Focus Shifts to Farmers as Dialogue Continues

The Times of Central Asia previously published an interview with Komoliddin Ikromov, head of the Agribusiness Association, addressing recent land disputes, legal processes, and ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector. In a separate conversation, Umida Niyazova, founder of the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, has offered an additional perspective, focusing on the conditions faced by cotton and wheat farmers. Her remarks come in the context of a recent joint report by the Uzbek Forum and Human Rights Watch examining structural issues in the agricultural system. While the report has drawn international attention, Niyazova emphasized that its primary focus differs from earlier discussions centered on cotton pickers. Focus on farmers rather than pickers Niyazova said public debate in recent years has largely focused on forced labor among cotton pickers, particularly prior to reforms introduced after 2019. However, she noted that the new report shifts attention to another group. “Our recent report on the cotton sector in Uzbekistan does not focus on cotton pickers, but rather on cotton and wheat producers, farmers,” she told The Times of Central Asia. “This is a different segment of workers whose problems have, for decades, remained overshadowed by the issue of forced labor of cotton pickers... The central finding of our report is that the working conditions of farmers producing cotton and wheat in Uzbekistan place them at risk of forced labor.” Basis for assessing risk Niyazova explained that this conclusion is based on eleven indicators developed by the International Labour Organization, “which define warning signs that individuals may be at risk.” However, the report does not conclude that specific cases constitute forced labor. “We did not have sufficient information to determine that any particular farmer is working under forced labor conditions,” she told TCA. “However, we were able to conclude that cotton and wheat farmers in general are at risk due to the conditions in which they work.” These indicators include factors such as vulnerability, intimidation, threats, withholding of wages, and abusive working conditions. At the same time, she acknowledged that Uzbekistan has made progress in addressing earlier concerns related to cotton picking. Changes in cotton picking practices Niyazova said the situation for cotton pickers has changed significantly in recent years. “These are seasonal workers, primarily rural residents, who are recruited by farmers or mahallas (neighborhoods) to harvest cotton over a two-month period,” she said. “Since the 2020 harvest, payment rates for manual cotton picking have increased. This has been an important, though not the only, factor in attracting voluntary laborers.” According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a recommended price of 2,000 UZS ($0.16) per kilogram of hand-picked cotton was set for 2025. During the harvest, prices may also be determined through agreements between cluster operators, farms, and pickers. Niyazova said additional reforms have contributed to changes in the sector, including the introduction of private clusters, increased mechanization, and government oversight. “Mechanization has increased year by year, reducing the need for manual labor,” she said, adding that by 2025, more than 50% of the harvest...

Forced Labor

Nineteen Uzbek Citizens Repatriated from Ukraine After Forced Labor Exploitation

Nineteen Uzbek nationals who were found in exploitative labor conditions in Ukraine’s Kyiv region have been safely repatriated to Uzbekistan, according to the Dunyo news agency. Ukrainian media had previously reported that the group was subjected to forced labor at a greenhouse facility in the region. In response, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Kyiv, working in coordination with Ukraine’s National Police and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) offices in Ukraine and Moldova, launched an urgent operation to secure their release and safe return. Dunyo reports that the embassy took swift and comprehensive measures to safeguard the victims’ rights, address documentation issues, and facilitate their departure. Following negotiations, all 19 individuals were officially recognized as victims under Ukrainian law, allowing them to avoid legal penalties or administrative charges. On October 28, with financial and logistical support from the IOM, the group was transported by road from Kyiv to Chișinău, Moldova. While in the Moldovan capital, they were provided with food, shelter, and essential services. On November 2 the group flew from Chișinău to Istanbul, arriving in Urgench in Uzbekistan on November 3, accompanied by IOM representatives. The operation was hailed as part of Uzbekistan’s broader commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of its citizens abroad. The Uzbek Embassy in Ukraine continues to monitor the status of its nationals in the country and respond promptly to any reported violations.