TASHKENT - 28 February 2017 A high-level ILO delegation, headed by Heinz Koller, ILO Assistant Director-General, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, visited Uzbekistan for signing of the extension of the Decent Work Country Programme of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017-2020 (DWCP).

“Owing to efforts of tripartite constituents and technical support provided by ILO, Uzbekistan has achieved significant progress in reduction and prevention of child and forced labour during the cotton harvest”, - said Heinz Koller, ILO Assistant Director-General, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.

By signing the Memorandum of Understanding, ILO and tripartite constituents confirmed their intentions to continue collaboration in the area of promoting fundamental principles and rights at work, fostering decent employment opportunities and improving working conditions and social protection. A detailed roadmap to achieving the DWCP goals will be developed jointly by ILO specialists and tripartite constituents in the forthcoming weeks.

“Joint actions of Uzbekistan stakeholders and ILO has made possible a notable progress the country made in promotion of fundamental principles and rights at work. The next period of the DWCP implementation will allow us to expand our areas of cooperation much further,” said Olga Koulaeva, Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The signing ceremony was attended by high-level government officials, embassies and UN agencies.