Uzbekistan: trade union representatives and activists pledged to monitor implementation of ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98

The two-day capacity building workshop, held on April 24 and 25, 2024, was attended by FTUU representatives from different departments and the sectoral unions representing manufacturing and agricultural workers. The workshop focused on building their capacity to promote Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW) in their efforts to organize and represent workers in garment and agriculture supply chains related to national and multinational companies. Dan Cork of the ILO Fundamentals Branch and Gocha Aleksandria, Sr. Specialist for Workers’ Activities at the ILO Щffice for Eastern Europe and Central Asia co-facilitated the workshop.

Over the course of two days, trade union representatives shared their perspective on the achievements, challenges and opportunities for advancing decent work in the two sectors, discussed the ILO Committee of Experts Conclusions on Uzbekistan’s implementation of Convention No. 87, and shared their perspectives on the barriers toward promoting workers’ rights. The FTUU activists demonstrated a keen interest to explore new approaches toward worker organizing and representation through a series of role plays that took place at simulated bus stops and coffee shops.

Case studies highlighting the struggle and success of trade unions in Pakistan, Tunisia, and Morocco in organizing and representing agricultural workers while advancing gender equality, the elimination of child labour and promoting healthy and safe workplaces, inspired the FTUU to consider new approaches to promoting collective bargaining and union organizing. Among the key next steps suggestion by the FTUU activists for future joint ACTRAV-Fundamentals branch were additional capacity building workshops in the regions, for representatives in both the agriculture and garment sector, on organizing and collective bargaining including for seasonal workers, the development of an awareness raising and information campaign for young workers, and engagement with national and foreign employers on win-win approaches to social dialogue.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan is an important partner among the ILO’s tripartite constituents in Uzbekistan. In addition to the workshop, ILO colleagues also held meetings during the week with the Confederation of Employers in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction. The overarching goal of the various discussions was to engage the national stakeholders on further steps that may be taken to advance implementation of ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98, in the context of Uzbekistan’s economic development strategy and the country’s goal of attracting additional foreign direct investment, to expand the creation of jobs and promote sustainable enterprises. The FTUU workshop and field mission were made through support from the Fundamentals Branch, the ILO-IFC Better Work Programme, and the “RISE for Impact” Project (funded by the Inditex company).