Starting from August 15, a week dedicated to combating forced labor has begun in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This was reported by Upl.uz.
This initiative was announced by the Ministry of Employment and Social Protection of the Population. Within the framework of the event, extensive inspections will be conducted in all schools and preschool educational institutions with the forces of the State Labor Inspectorate.
The main goal of these activities is to identify and prevent the practice of forcing teachers and educators to perform tasks that are not part of their official duties. Recently, involving educators in repair, construction, and landscaping work, especially during their official holidays, has increased, causing significant public discontent.
According to official data, as a result of inspections conducted earlier based on complaints received from mass media and social networks, more than 10 cases of illegal use of labor by employees in the education sector were identified. Administrative liability measures were applied to responsible persons who violated labor legislation requirements in these cases.
Additionally, along with the inspection activities, official assignments were sent to the relevant ministries and agencies. They are required to thoroughly investigate the root causes of these violations and take effective measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
It is emphasized that during the week, responsibility will be applied not only to employers but also to all responsible persons who organize forced labor. Experts note that despite the existence of a law adopted in February 2024 that strictly prohibits involving educators in non-professional activities, the problem remains persistent.
Announcing the exact dates of the inspections sparked discussions in society that the campaign might be conducted merely for appearances. However, such a large-scale event indicates that state bodies are seriously paying attention to protecting the labor rights of education workers.
In March 2022, the International Labour Organization recognized the elimination of systematic child labor and forced labor in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry and lifted the “cotton boycott” status against the country. This is the result of many years of reforms in the sector.
