In opening the signing ceremony, Ms. Gulru Jabborzoda, Minister of labour, migration and employment of population of Tajikistan, pointed out that the new DWCP approved by the Government Resolution of July 30, 2020 relies on the national priorities and consultations with social partners.
As the fifth DWCP, this document has been setting the vectors for cooperation between the ILO and the Republic of Tajikistan for 18 years.

The programme sets out to ensure inclusive economic growth by creating decent jobs and strengthening labour market institutions; improve working conditions and enhance the coverage of social protection; and build the capacities of tripartite constituents and social dialogue institutions to address priority labour issues.

The Minister noted that “the programme’s implementation will positively affect the achievement of the 2030 National Development Strategy and other programmes and projects to be implemented in Tajikistan”. She stressed that the new DWCP will bring the cooperation between the ILO and Tajikistan to a higher level.

Ms. Olga Koulaeva, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, thanked the Minister for her high appreciation of the implementation outcomes of the previous DWCP.

She discussed in detail the negative socioeconomic effects of COVID-19. The pandemic was announced nine months after the adoption of the ILO Centenary Declaration, only to dramatically change the situation across the globe including in Tajikistan.

It had a dire impact on migrant workers who make up a large part of the country’s workforce as well as on women who are overrepresented in sectors affected by the pandemic. The ILO Office Director specifically mentioned the problems faced by students and young labour markets entrants.

Mr. Azizbek Sharipov, Chairman of the Employers` Union of Republic of Tajikistan, expressed his active support for the new programme. He noted that the pandemic had a negative effect on family income in Tajikistan where a quarter of households depend on cash transfers by migrant workers. In the context of pandemic, the new DWCP should include more interventions to support small and medium businesses and to build the potential of the Employers’ Union.

Mr. Ismoil Fayzizoda, Chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Tajikistan, made a special point on the need to develop the social protection system as the main factor of national development. He expressed confidence that the new decent work country programme will be successfully implemented.

The DWCP signing ceremony was held online.