Uzbekistan builds employers' organizations' capacity to provide occupational safety and health trainings to enterprises

TASHKENT (ILO News) – The in-person phase of the Essentials in Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH) training course took place in Tashkent from 30 June to 4 July 2025. The training was organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ACT/EMP), the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) and the ILO project Improving Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Systems in Uzbekistan as part of the capacity building of the Confederation of Employers of Uzbekistan (CEU).

The course was aimed at creating a pool of certified trainers for the CEU who would further disseminate knowledge and increase the overall workplace safety in companies in Uzbekistan. This approach of training of trainers under the overall umbrella of the employers’ organization is to ensure the scope of the impact, the sustainability of the training and the ownership of the results of the activity.

"This course will help create new services and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Confederation of Employers of Uzbekistan," said Vladimir Curovic, ILO Senior Specialist in Employers’ Activities, ILO Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The training is of modular structure, with each module covering a specific aspect of OSH, which makes it highly customizable to the needs of individual companies. To ensure the highest quality of the programme, all materials were adapted to the national context following a comprehensive technical review by ILO experts.

Supporting national efforts for prevention

The EOSH course enabled employers’ organizations to develop a network of trained corporate instructors capable of implementing OSH management systems at major enterprises. This contributes to reducing occupational risks and injury-related costs, improving productivity through a safer working environment and building a socially responsible business image – promoting a culture of prevention and safety at the enterprise and sectoral levels.

Workplace safety is not just a rule - it's our mindset as a modern employer.

Andrey Shchipanov, Health and Safety Executive, Coca-Cola Ichimligi Uzbekistan, Ltd

© ILO

© ILO

"For me, I realized that workplace safety is not just a rule - it's our mindset as a modern employer. The training and EOSH will surely help every employee of Coca-Cola Uzbekistan become part of a culture where care for life and health comes first,” said Andrey Shchipanov, Health and Safety Executive, Coca-Cola Ichimligi Uzbekistan, Ltd.

Representatives of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan were invited to participate at the training as well. This will help them not only to enhance their knowledge on OSH, but it will also give them the insight into the kind of training that employers will be providing to their employees, thus enhancing social partners joint work on the improvement of the job safety at company level.

Additionally, the course not only increases the technical capacity of inspections, but it also facilitates the cooperation between labour inspectors and companies in reducing the risks at enterprise levels and improves the quality of inspections.

© ILO

© ILO

The offline phase marked the final stage of a nine-week blended course designed to develop a national pool of certified trainers. Participants engaged in team-based simulations, role plays and practical assignments aimed at preparing them to deliver their own training modules.

The project Improving Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Systems in Uzbekistan is part of the ILO’s flagship programme Safety + Health for All and is implemented with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ). The contribution of BMZ goes far beyond financial support – it drives the transformation of Uzbekistan’s OSH system and empowers national trainers to lead lasting change.