Cooperation within the frameworks of ILO

Policy of Uzbekistan in the sphere of protection of children's rights on pages of the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Nahar

View from Greece: Uzbekistan - dynamically developing country


European Union supports the further development of cooperation with Uzbekistan


UN: Uzbekistan gives the priority to protecting the interests and rights of children

Meeting at Federation of Trade Unions with delegation of ILO and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)


Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Tripartite partners (Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Populaion, Council of Federation of Trade Unions, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan) held a meeting with the mission of the International Labour Organization (ILO) led by special advisor of the Director-General of the ILO Kari Tapiola.
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Tashkent, Uzbekistan - Committee of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan on democratic institutes, non-governmental organizations and self-governing bodies organized a hearing of information on execution of the Conventions No. 138 (On the minimum age for admission to employment and work) and No. 182 (On eliminating the worst forms of child labour) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) by the departments and organizations.
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UZBEKISTAN PROFILE: OVERVIEW OF MODERN LIFE OF UZBEKISTAN

The bulletin provides information on the cooperation between Uzbekistan and the International Labour Organization (ILO) for the prevention of the worst forms of child labor and forced labor. It says that in 2008 Uzbekistan has ratified ILO Convention 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour and ILO Convention 138 on the minimum age for admission to employment, which are successfully implemented.

In particular, the commitment of the Government of the Republic fulfill its international obligations and to strengthen the legal framework for the protection of the rights of minors, the important role of trade union organizations, including all the collective bargaining regulations on compliance with the minimum age for admission to employment and preventing the worst forms of child labor. The article also provides information on the activities of the Coordination Council on Child Labour, which is a public body, coordinating the efforts of government agencies and civil society institutions on the implementation of national policies and the improvement of work in this area.

The section on international cooperation, published articles on the recent visit to Uzbekistan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Iyad bin Amin Madani, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, president of the Association of National Olympic Committees and the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. The documents also said that reputable guests were received by the President of our country Islam Karimov.

Then newsletter introduces the audience to the swing of democratic reforms, speaking about the improvement in the mechanisms for implementing the Republic of effective parliamentary control, and the system of training of legal personnel, play an important role in the implementation of judicial reform and the development and prosperity of society.

Article, which is about the implementation in Uzbekistan of the State program "Year of attention and care for the senior generation", notes the role of trade unions in achieving the tasks of ensuring the full support of the elderly, veterans, the elderly and people with disabilities, protecting their rights and interests, improving their well-being. The article states that the implementation of measures within the framework of the State program trade union organizations of the country sent more than 16 billion soums.

In Uzbekistan Profile proanosirovano also holding the X-th anniversary of the International Music Festival "Sharq taronalari", which will be held on August 2015 in Samarkand. It is noted that this festival will be attended Folklor group from Belgium and the Netherlands, which will demonstrate vyzskatelnomu international jury and numerous domestic and foreign guests of the forum your art.

IA "Jahon", Brussels

THE TURKISH EDITION ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S RIGHTS PROTECTION IN UZBEKISTAN

At the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the city of Minsk information material titled "The priority - protection of the interests and rights of children" has been distributed among the CIS member states.

It notes that for our country from the first years of independence the issues of children's rights, their health and quality education have become a priority of public policy. In particular, it creates a legal framework of the national education system aimed at radical reform of education, formation and development of the national training system at the level of developed countries.

In addition, it is reported that 92% of children in the country by the development parameters correspond to World Health Organization standards. In the the ranking of countries compiled by International organization "Save the children", which show the level of taking care of the health of the younger generation, Uzbekistan deservedly took the 9th place among 161 states.

In addition, the article also notes the measures taken for the effective implementation of ILO conventions, which is an important item on the agenda of collective bargaining between employers and trade unions. "General Agreement between the Government of the country, the Federation of Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce of the socio-economic issues in 2014-2016 contains a direct instruction about the parties' commitment to full compliance with ILO Conventions. Similar obligations are included in collective bargaining at the industry acts, territorial and local levels. In particular, almost all collective agreements include regulations on compliance with the minimum age for admission to employment and to prevent the worst forms of child labor", - the document stated.

The article focuses on the creation of the Coordination Council on Child Labour under the guidance of the Trade Union Federation of Uzbekistan. It is a public body and is formed on a permanent basis from representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, trade unions, employers' associations and other civil society institutions.

"The Council in its work pays special attention to monitoring the exclusion of child labor in various sectors of the economy. For example, in autumn monitoring is carried out in the cotton fields, while at other times it is carried out in business structures",- the article concludes.

IA "Jahon"

BNS informs about the protection of the interests and rights of children in Uzbekistan

The portal Baltic News Service BNS (Baltic News Service) in the category of social and political press releases posted information materials in Russian and English "Priority - protection of the interests and rights of children".

It reports that the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan together with the interested ministries and departments of the republic with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the national and regional levels a series of "round tables" dedicated to the World Day Against Child Labour have been held.

At these events, it was noted that in Uzbekistan from the first years of independence the issues of children's rights, health, quality education for children became a priority direction of state policy. In particular, it creates a legal framework of the national education system aimed at radical reform of education, formation and development of the national training system at the level of developed countries.

"In 1992, Uzbekistan has ratified the ILO Convention "On the Rights of the Child", which is one of the first officially accepted international instruments. The country adopted the Law "On guarantees of the rights of the child". All documents relating to the interests of the child, the issues of children's rights are set at the level of international standards", - the article says.

IA "Jahon", Riga

"Round table" dedicated to the world day against child labour

Tashkent hosted a "round table" dedicated to the World Day Against Child Labour. It was organized by the Federation Council of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan (FCTU), International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Representation of Children's Fund of the United Nations (UNICEF) in our country.

Addressing at the meeting Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan A.Abduhakimov, chairman of FCTU T.Narbaeva, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce A.Shayhov, head of the UNICEF office in Tashkent R.Fuderich and others noted that in Uzbekistan, upbringing of harmoniously developed, smart and healthy young generation is a priority of state policy. Great attention is paid to education, to the development of which allocated more than 35% of the state budget.

As part of a state policy to prevent the worst forms of child labor in Uzbekistan conducted a large-scale work aimed at creating stronger mechanisms to protect the rights of the child, as well as the improvement of national legislation and practice in line with international conventions.

It was stressed that the country in 2008 ratified the Convention 182 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour and ILO Convention 138 on the minimum age for admission to employment, which are successfully implemented. In order to strengthen the responsibility of economic entities and individuals for violation of the inadmissibility of the use of child labor, as well as for violation of labor legislation in respect of persons who have not attained the age of eighteen, in 2009 adopted the Law "On Amendments to the Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on administrative responsibility in connection with the improvement of the legislation on the protection of minors".

In accordance with this, this Code is supplemented by new regulations, impose more stringent liability officials and other persons for violation of labor legislation and labor protection of minors for using child labor in work that can harm their health, safety or morals, or for administrative enforcement of the minor to work.

Article 241 of the Labour Code prohibits the employment of persons under eighteen years of age in jobs with poor working conditions, underground and other works that may damage the health, safety or morals of this category of workers. Lifting and moving of loads exceeding the established norms by persons below eighteen years is not allowed.

It was noted that the adoption of appropriate measures for the effective implementation of ILO conventions is an important item on the agenda of collective bargaining between employers and trade unions. General Agreement between the Government of the country, the Federation of Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce of the socio-economic issues in the years 2014-2016 contains a direct instruction about the parties' commitment to full compliance with ILO Conventions. Similar obligations are included in collective bargaining at the industry acts, territorial and local levels.

The ongoing systematic work in this direction provides prevention of child labor. In order to enhance these activities under the leadership of the Trade Union Federation of Uzbekistan the Coordination Council on Child Labour. It is a public body and is formed on a permanent basis from representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, trade unions, employers' associations and other civil society institutions.

Coordinating Council played a crucial role in the organization and monitoring of child labor in the cotton industry, organized by Uzbekistan and the ILO in 2013, as well as in a national monitoring of child labor in cotton harvesting cotton in 2014.

The monitoring, which took place with the participation and technical support of ILO experts, revealed the absence of the use of forced child labor on a systematic basis in the collection of cotton and small business entities.

As a result of the announcement of the results of monitoring and conclusions of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations at the 103rd session of the International Labour Conference marked by positive progress in cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ILO. To identify cases of the presence of children in the cotton fields of regional groups monitoring drawn up removal of children, and with the help of labor inspections instituted the case on administrative responsibility.

An important preventive measure in the fight against child labor is the organization of summer recreation of children of school age. Every year, children's camps organized by the trade unions of the Republic of rest and improvement of about 300 thousand children. In particular, in 2015 it organized the work camps in 1149, in which preferential recovery of more than 287 thousand children is planned.

Taking into account the interests of the children activity of several specialized camps has been improved. Their number this year has reached 220, including camps for "Intellectual Development" and "Social adaptation" for children without parental care. More than 23 thousand qualified teachers, heads of clubs, sports instructors have been attracted to work in this area.

IA "Jahon"

CIS members are introduced to the measures carried out in Uzbekistan on protection of children's rights

Protecting children's rights is a priority of domestic and foreign policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The country has taken concrete and effective measures aimed at preventing the use of child and forced labor.

This is referred to in the information material distributed by the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States and countries of the CIS.

The document notes that Uzbekistan has a robust legal framework that protects children's rights in the workplace. Constitution prohibited any form of forced labor, which is the legal basis for the protection of citizens from exploitation, discrimination and coercion. The legislation provides criminal penalties for forced labor and human trafficking, set the minimum age for admission to employment, prohibits the employment of persons under 18 years of age in 34 areas of production. This category of citizens are not allowed to 1673 specific professions".

It is stated that the main government bodies responsible for issues relating to children in the community, including control over the prevention of the worst forms of child labor are the Special Commission on Minors under the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, as well as Coordination Council on Child Labour.

In addition, direct control over compliance with current legislation on protection of the rights of the younger generation is also carried out by the Institute of Ombudsman and its branches in the regions.

Further reports on the conduct of the International Labour Organization in the period from 11 September to 31 October 2013 monitoring to prevent the use of child labor.

"The monitoring was conducted on the basis of principles and practices of the ILO, and also included conducting trainings and seminars across the country, - stated in the information material. - An approach based on the principles of capacity building, open communication, problem solving and mutual respect demonstrated by the high level of preparation and cooperation during the monitoring period".

It is noted that the monitoring revealed the absence of the use of forced child labor in a systematic manner. Along with this, in the course of the study there was widespread awareness of all citizens on the national legislation and international conventions in the field of prevention of child labor.

Special attention is given in the information material to the International Conference "The role of trade unions in ensuring citizens' rights to decent working conditions: the experience of Uzbekistan" held on April 22-23, 2015 in Tashkent.

IA "Jahon", Minsk

Baltic news service informs about the productive cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ILO

The website of Baltic News Service (BNS) posted information material "On measures taken in Uzbekistan to prevent the use of child and forced labor". In particular, it reports that our country by the way of building a democratic, law-based state, one of the first in the region has ratified 13 conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), including forced labor and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child labor and others. It was noted that the provision of human rights and freedoms are the supreme purpose in Uzbekistan.

"Uzbek law provides criminal penalties for forced labor and human trafficking, the minimum age of recruitment, is prohibited to employ persons under 18 years of age in 34 areas of production, and they are not allowed to specific occupations in 1673, compulsory education for 12 years, after which Every year more than 500,000 young men and women get 2-3 profession demanded in the market", - noted in the material.

At the same time it stressed that the country created a system of state institutions to prevent forced labor, including the worst forms of child labor. "Confirmation of the commitment of Uzbekistan to further develop and strengthen constructive cooperation with the ILO on the implementation of the Convention №105 is adopted in April this year in the framework of the ILO signed a Memorandum of Understanding," the ILO country program for decent work in Uzbekistan for 2014-2016".

"Evidence of a strong commitment of Uzbekistan to fulfill its international obligations in the field of occupational safety and health is the development of constructive dialogue and intensified cooperation with the ILO in the last two years. Since 2013, 20 joint activities conducted with the ILO. Nine times representatives of the ILO have visited the republic.

At present in Uzbekistan together with the International Labour Organization the conditions of labor and employment practices of labor to harvest cotton are being studied.

Due to the fact that in the last year achieved a high level of cooperation with the ILO and, given the commitment of the Government of the Republic to fulfill international obligations, at the 103 Session of the ILC in 2014 Uzbekistan was not included in the number of countries which have problems with the implementation of ILO Conventions", - the article stresses.

IA "Jahon", Riga

Afghan newspaper about cooperation of Uzbekistan and the ILO

In the regular issue of the Afghan English language newspaper Daily Outlook Afghanistan published an article "Uzbekistan and the International Labour Organization signed a Memorandum of Understanding".

According to the publication, the ceremony of signing the document attached to it program on decent work in the country for 2014-2016 took place in Tashkent.

It is emphasized that in the framework of the Memorandum and Programme envisages cooperation in such priority areas as the strengthening of the social partnership in Uzbekistan to implement the fundamental principles and rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, improving working conditions and social protection.

The newspaper notes that the document will contribute to the promotion of international labor standards, the promotion of employment through the implementation of active labor market policies, the development of entrepreneurship, strengthen labor protection and extend coverage of social protection.

Special attention is given to the material Permanent Representative of UNDP and the Head of the EU delegation in Uzbekistan and expressed readiness to promote the activities, which will focus on the practical implementation of the program on decent work in the country for 2014-2016.

IA "Jahon", Kabul

Escap acquainted with the measures on protection of children's rights carried out in Uzbekistan

At the headquarters of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok distributed information material on the measures undertaken in Uzbekistan to prevent the use of child and forced labor.

The document notes that fr om the first days of independence, Uzbekistan has chosen the path of building a democratic, legal state, wh ere the provision of human rights and freedoms are the supreme goal. Being a full member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the country has ratified 13 ILO conventions, including the Forced Labour and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour and others.

As a confirmation of the commitment of Uzbekistan to further develop and strengthen constructive cooperation with the international community in the document states, "The country program of the ILO on decent work in Uzbekistan for 2014-2016", signed in April 2014.

"The program includes three strategic directions, in particular, strengthening social partnership, including a plan of action on the application of conventions on forced and child labor; encourage decent employment opportunities, including young people; development of an effective OSH management system, strengthening of social protection of the population", - the document informs.

It is emphasized that in Uzbekistan formed a reliable legal framework that protects children's rights in the workplace. Constitution prohibited any form of forced labor, which is the legal basis for the protection of citizens from exploitation, discrimination and coercion. Laws, adopted by the Labour Code, on employment, labor protection, compulsory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases, on social protection of disabled people, guaranteeing the rights of the child, combating human trafficing and others.

"During the years of independence, the country established a system of public institutions to prevent forced labor, including the worst forms of child labor, - stated in the material. - There is a special Commission for minors under the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan, responsible for addressing virtually all matters relating to the situation of children in society, including control over the prevention of the worst forms of child labor.

At the same time, established the Coordination Council on Child Labour, which is composed of senior officials of the Council of Federation of Trade Unions, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Chamber of Commerce, Board of farmers".

Further reports on the conduct of the International Labour Organization in the period from 11 September to 31 October 2013 monitoring to prevent the use of child labor.

"The monitoring was conducted on the basis of principles and practices of the ILO, and also included conducting trainings and seminars across the country, - stated in the information material. - An approach based on the principles of capacity building, open communication, problem solving and mutual respect demonstrated by the high level of preparation and cooperation during the monitoring period".

It is noted that the monitoring revealed the absence of the use of forced child labor in a systematic manner. Along with this, in the course of the study there was widespread awareness of all citizens on the national legislation and international conventions in the field of prevention of child labor.

IA "Jahon"

Protection of children’s interests and rights is a priority task

It was noted at the said events that the matters related to securing the children’s rights, protection of health and giving them high quality education have become the priority directions of the government policy since the first days independence in Uzbekistan. For instance, legal frameworks have been created for the national education system aimed at radically reforming the education sphere, establishment and development of the national system of personnel training at the level of developed countries.

In 1992, Uzbekistan ratified the ILO Rights of Children Convention which is one of the first officially adopted international documents. The country has adopted the Guarantees of Child’s Rights. In all documents related to the child’s interests, the issues of securing the children’s rights have been set at the level of international standards.

The national model “A healthy mother means a healthy child” allowed to surround the fair part of the mankind and the rising generations with special care. Under its framework of implementation, the State Program of further strengthening the population’s reproductive health, protection of mothers’, children’s and teen-agers health in Uzbekistan for the period of 2014-2018 has been approved. Thanks to this, the women of fertile age, children and teen-agers have been totally covered, birth of children with congenital defects has been prevented.

In 2014 alone, 6.5 million preschoolers and school pupils, students of vocational colleges and lyceums were subjected to comprehensive medical examination which allows to detect disease at early stages and to successfully prevent them.

Uzbekistan conducts also free vaccination of all children at the age of two years which allowed to entirely eliminate such diseases as diphtheria, poliomyelitis and tetanus.

Today, 92 percent of the country’s children meet the standards of the World Health Organization in terms of development parameters. The rating of countries made up by the International Organization “Save the children” showed that Uzbekistan holds the 9th position among the 161 countries where the health of the rising generation is best taken care of.

At the same time, the country closely focuses on giving the young generation high-quality education. For instance, education expenditures annually allocated from the public budget constitute between 10 and 12% of the GDP. About 60% of the total annual budget of the country is channeled to the support of the social sphere of which half to education.

It is worth to note that based on the passed “Education” and “The National Personnel Training Program” laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the unified continuous education system has been introduced in the country. The general secondary education and secondary special, vocational education with the total period education of 12 years is mandatory and free of charge.

The fundamental feature of the model implemented in the country consists in the fact that the after 9 years of education in the general education school, the pupils continue the next 3 years in specialized vocational colleges and academic lyceums each, along with study of general education disciplines, receive vocational training in 2-3 professions demanded in the labor market.

Beside this, there is a system of additional education introduced which includes musical and sports schools, schools of arts, “Perfect Generation” Centers, study groups of various aspects. They ensure that children are purposefully and usefully occupied during their leisure time.

In general, during the period of independent development, around 9,500 schools, 1,500 lyceums and colleges have been built and rebuilt which have been also provided with all the required modern equipment and text-books.

In 2015, 353 general education schools are constructed, rebuilt and overhauled as well as 147 vocational colleges and academic lyceums are overhauled totally to the sum of UZS 400 bn. Until 2020, it is planned to construct, rebuild and overhaul 500 general education schools of which 101 will be newly built schools as well as 810 vocational colleges and academic lyceums will be overhauled.

According to the results of the survey of development of human assets conducted in 2012 by the World Intellectual Property Organization and one of the largest international business-schools INSEAD, Uzbekistan was the 5th on the planet in terms of the level of development of the education system.

According to Article 77, the Labor Code, Republic of Uzbekistan, recruitment is allowed as from the age of sixteen. Under the “Education Law” of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a system has been established for education that specifies 12-year education for all children which precludes existence of underage children in the labor market.

It has to be noted that in 2008 Uzbekistan ratified Convention 182 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) on prohibition of urgent actions to eliminate the worst forms of child labor and ILO Convention 138 on the minimal age for employment which is successfully implemented in practice. In order to enhance the liability of business entities and individuals for breaches in the requirements of inadmissibility of use of underage children’s labor, as well as for a breach in the labor code in respect of persons who are below 18 years old, in 2009 году, the Law re: “Amending the Labor Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on administrative liability due to improvement of the laws regarding protection of the rights of the underage children”.

In accordance with this, said Code has been supplemented with new regulations that set up stricter liability for officers and other persons for e breach in the laws of labor and safety of underage youth, for use of underage youth labor in work that may cause harm their health, put at risk their safety or morals as well as for administratively forcing underage youth to work.

In accordance with Article 241, the labor Code, Republic of Uzbekistan, it is forbidden to sue the labor of youth below eighteen years old in work with unfavorable working conditions, underground and other work that may harm the health, put at risk their safety or morals of this category of laborers. It is not allowed for persons below eighteen years old to lift and mover loads exceeding the eight limits established.

Taking adequate steps to effectively implement the ILO conventions is the important topic of collective agreements between employers and Trade Unions. The general agreement between the country’s Government, the Trade Unions Federation and the Chamber of Trade and Industry on socio-economic issues for 2014-2016 contains direct prescription on commitment of the parties to faithfully abide by the ILO conventions. Similar commitments have been included in the collective compacts at the sector, territorial and local levels. For instance, almost all collective agreements contain regulatory provisions on compliance with the minimal age for employment and on prevention of the worst forms of use of child labor.

The system-based activities carried out in this respect ensure prevention of use of child labor. In order to enhance the said activities under the guidance of the Uzbekistan Trade Unions Federation, a Coordination Board has been created for child labor issues. It is a standing public authority consisting of representatives of concerned ministries and agencies, Trade Unions, employers’ association, other public society institutions.

The main objective of the Coordination Board is to coordinate activities and to unite the efforts of government bodies and public society institutes aiming at implementation of the national policy of elimination of the worst forms of use of child labor and improvement of activities in this sphere.

Due to development of agriculture and private farming as well as of small businesses and self-employed entrepreneurship, the activities related to prevention of use child labor in the said spheres are growing. For instance, activities are carried on to build up the potentials of employers, farmers, staff members of ministries and agencies, hokims of cities and districts, heads of education institutions, chairpersons of territorial committees of women and rural citizens. At the initiative of the Trade Unions Federation, lessons dedicated to study of national and international labor standards, including ILO Conventions with a special focus on the Child and Forced Labor Conventions have been included in all the courses of improvement of skills of administrative officers. Specific attention is paid to information/entertainment activities: special booklets, methodology guide-books are published, parents’ meetings are held which serve to enhance the awareness of both parents and their children.

In the process of its work, the Coordination Board specifically focus on monitoring prevention of use of child labor in various sectors of the economy. For example, cotton fields are monitored in autumn period, business at other times. Beside this, the Coordination Board holds its monthly meetings to address coordination and further improvement of activities in these directions.

Round table meetings at the republican level and in 14 regions of the country were conducted under the slogan: “No to child labor, yes to high-quality education!”.

UNO was informed on the activities of trade unions of Uzbekistan in the sphere of protection of labor rights

11.05.2015

Information on the international conference "The role of trade unions in ensuring citizens' rights to decent working conditions: the experience of Uzbekistan" held in Tashkent on 22-23 April this year, and its outcome was distributed in the United Nations Headquarters in New York, among the 193 member countries.

The community of nations has received detailed information about the basic rights of workers enshrined in the Constitution and laws of our country, fully derived from international standards in this area, special privileges and guarantees to ensure the employment of youth and women, the creation of decent working conditions for employees, providing additional leave for women child care, various surcharges associated with motherhood, and other measures taken in Uzbekistan social support.

The article also states that implemented in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Islam Karimov, a strong social policy is an important factor in the creation of decent working conditions for citizens and the development of social protection systems, provide the results measures taken by the trade unions for the protection of the socio-economic interests and labor rights workers and their families.

"The country has a general agreement between the Government of Uzbekistan, the Council of Federation of Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce on socio-economic issues in the years 2014-2016. The document provides for the implementation of measures to ensure the creation of decent working conditions for different categories of workers. On the basis of the Agreement in the country operate 90 branch and 14 regional agreements, directly to enterprises, organizations and institutions - more than 100 thousand collective agreements. All collective bargaining acts specified items such as the promotion of formal employment, decent wages, security and safety, legal and social protection of workers, benefits for women and young people, respect for ILO Conventions and other", - the document reports.

It is also noted that the conference representatives of international organizations, foreign trade union centers and international experts praised the experience of Uzbekistan to guarantee citizens' rights to decent working conditions. In particular, it was emphasized that the country achieved high results in the expansion of employment opportunities and income generation, improvement of social protection and strengthening social dialogue.

In particular, the fundamental rights of workers enshrined in the Constitution and laws of the republic, fully consistent with international labor standards, and in many areas even surpass them, noted participants in the forum. In particular, there are specific benefits and guarantees in providing employment, creating the necessary conditions for workers.

"In recent years, about 60% of the cost of the State budget are directed to social sphere, - reported in the material. - To carry out large-scale measures to improve the level and quality of life, provide workers decent pay and safe working conditions. Much has been done in such areas as the improvement of labor law and pension system, labor market regulation".

The following provides information about programs in our country, the measures to establish social security system trudyaschihsya.Soobschaetsya that the country's state social insurance applies to all employees. Includes cash payments or services for sickness, maternity and old-age pension, disability and survivor benefits. Measures are being taken to stimulate the demand for labor, the creation of stable jobs.

Effectively develop small business, farming, domestic work, handicraft, services and service driven livestock production in private farms, the establishment of agricultural companies in rural areas. This eliminates all barriers to the development of private enterprise, reduced government presence in the economy and other areas. All this contributes to an increase in the scope of employment, there is no sharp stratification of the population by income level.

The opinions of the conference participants were cited about that constructive social dialogue between the government, unions and employers serves to strengthen social protection of workers. "The country has accumulated rich experience in the implementation of public control in the sphere of labor, trade unions are given broad powers to ensure that the rights of workers to decent working conditions", - the document informs.

As reported by the document, Uzbekistan besides international conferences are regularly held "round tables", seminars, briefings on the social protection of the population and the introduction of legislation in the country's standards to ensure decent work. They are representatives of international organizations and trade union activists from foreign countries to exchange views and experiences in this area.

Thus, today the experience and success of our country in the field of labor rights are recognized and widely studied by the international community. International Conference "The role of trade unions in ensuring citizens' rights to decent working conditions: the experience of Uzbekistan", information about which is common among UN member states, has become a kind of presentation of the achievements of our country in this sphere.

IA "Jahon", New York

Uzbekistan's experience in the field of labor rights protection - in the focus of world attention

08.05.2015

International Conference "The role of trade unions in ensuring citizens' rights to decent working conditions: the experience of Uzbekistan" held in Tashkent on 22-23 April this year, aroused great interest among the public, political and expert circles of foreign countries, and received wide coverage in the local and foreign media.

A high level of expertise activities due authority of its participants - members of both chambers of the Oliy Majlis, representatives of state and public organizations, as well as the delegation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Trade Union Confederation, heads of international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan, international experts from Germany, Denmark, Georgia, China, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, France, allowed to discuss the relevance for all states and societies subject. In addition, the conference provided an opportunity to more clearly and effectively inform the world community with the experience of Uzbekistan in the field of protection of the rights of citizens to decent working conditions.

As a result - a wide resonance and international interest in the "Uzbek model" of development, efficiency and effectiveness of one of its fundamental principles - "conducting a strong social policy."

Thus, information about the international conference and its outcome was distributed in the United Nations Headquarters in New York, among the 193 member countries. The community of nations has received detailed information about the basic rights of workers enshrined in the Constitution and laws of our country, fully derived from international standards in this area, special privileges and guarantees to ensure the employment of youth and women, the creation of decent working conditions for employees, providing additional leave for women child care, various surcharges associated with motherhood, and other measures taken in Uzbekistan social support.

At the same time, the materials on the results of the conference were distributed to the 57 member countries, 11 co-operation partners of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the institutions and the OSCE field missions, as well as the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States and countries of the CIS.

The media of foreign countries is also observed great interest and attention to the topic of the international forum in Tashkent.

Thus, the Latvian news portal Baltic News Service (BNS) published an article about the conference. It is noted that the participants were provided with detailed information about the opportunities provided by trade unions of Uzbekistan to carry out their functions to guarantee workers' rights to decent working conditions.

BNS informed that due to the ongoing in our country a strong social policy, effective mechanisms of social protection of labor rights and interests of workers and their families.

"The country has a general agreement between the Government of Uzbekistan, the Council of Federation of Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce on socio-economic issues in the years 2014-2016 - said the Latvian news portal. - The document provides for the implementation of measures to ensure the creation of decent working conditions for different categories of workers. On the basis of the Agreement in the country operate 90 branch and 14 regional agreements, directly to enterprises, organizations and institutions - more than 100 thousand collective agreements. All collective bargaining acts specified elements of decent work such as the promotion of formal employment, decent wages, security and safety, legal and social protection of workers, benefits for women and young people, respect for ILO Conventions and other ".

Indian information-analytical portal Sarkaritel and Diplomacy India lead opinions and assessments of foreign representatives of the expert community settled in Uzbekistan constructive social dialogue between the government, unions and employers, which serves to strengthen the social protection of workers. Media noted that our country has accumulated rich experience in the implementation of public control in the sphere of labor, trade unions are given broad powers to ensure that the rights of workers to decent working conditions and their results.

Informing about the results of the conference, Sarkaritel transfers:

"Representatives of international organizations, trade union centers and foreign experts praised the experience of Uzbekistan to guarantee citizens' rights to decent working conditions. In particular, it was stressed that the country has achieved good results in the expansion of employment opportunities and income generation, improvement of social protection and strengthening social dialogue.

It stresses that labor legislation of Uzbekistan fully comply with international labor standards, and a number of indicators even ahead of them. To fully ensure the labor rights of citizens and the right to a decent wage. The enterprises, organizations and institutions on the basis of collective agreements, to be signed between the trade union committees and employers, work is carried out to promote employment, the creation of comfortable and safe working conditions for organized new jobs and ensure the rights of workers to decent working conditions, the provision of additional benefits and guarantees , retraining of personnel".

Press conference at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection

08.05.2015

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan hosted a press conference dedicated to the priority areas of the agency. It was attended by heads and senior officials of the Ministry and representatives of the national media.

At the event, it noted that the priority of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the current 2015 is the implementation of the tasks set in the State Program "Year of attention and care for the older generation".

In particular, within the framework of this program, as

on April 1, 2015 more than 17,5 thousand single elderly, pensioners and disabled persons who have expressed a desire to use social services, services provided by social workers.

All single pensioners and the disabled at the expense of charities provided financial assistance amounting to more than 1 billion soums. They also underwent medical examinations, the results of which need to get treatment in the outpatient, inpatient, as well as at home.

According to the organizers, for the first quarter of this year, the disabled need free of charge provided with technical means of rehabilitation, including 642 disabled provided with wheelchairs, 272 people - hearing aids, 117 - crutches and 389 disabled - canes.

In addition, 615 veterans of war and labor front are provided with vouchers for recuperation. 8670 elderly and disabled received spa vouchers to the sanatorium of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Uzbekistan.

IA "Jahon"

"Together we will raise culture of prevention in occupation safety to the high level"

30.04.2015

Council of the Federation of Trade Unions conducted a "round table" on the theme "Together will raise the high level of culture of prevention in the field of occupational safety and health", reports the press service of the Council.

The event was attended by deputies of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, representatives of ministries and departments concerned, Employers, partner organizations, as well as a number of international organizations accredited in the Republic of Uzbekistan and the media.

It was noted that in our country every year enhanced attention to the protection of employees, providing them with safe and decent working conditions. The importance given to improving safety culture, prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, the development of social partnership in solving these issues.

Health, in particular the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases is one of the priorities of the Federation of Trade Unions. On this basis, in the meantime we carried out systematic work to improve the quality and efficiency of work in this direction.

As a result, the primary trade union organizations, along with the creation of decent working conditions for employees, achieved significant results to respect hygienic rules in staff, the prevention of industrial accidents and occupational diseases.

During the "round table", it was emphasized that strengthening labor protection special place occupies the cooperation of trade unions, employers, government and non-profit organizations. It is also noted that due to the improvement of the legal framework in the field of occupation safety, it is possible to solve many problems in this area, based on social partnership.

At the same time, issues of raising a high level of culture of prevention in this area. Particular attention is paid to further improve measures to protect workers, improve their efficiency and effectiveness. The participants shared their national and international experience in this field.

In the event, rewarding the winners of the Republican contest "the best organization of social control of labor protection", which contributes to improving the effectiveness of social control is an important factor in strengthening employers' attention to the prevention of work-related injuries and occupational diseases.

As a result of the "round table" organized an exhibition of special clothing and personal protective equipment, which serve as effective enforcement of labor protection.

IA "Jahon"

Priorities in the field of labour and social security

29.04.2015

In a joint project of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and United Nations Development Programme "Professional social services for persons with disabilities, and the elderly in Uzbekistan" conducted a functional analysis of the Ministry, according to the press service of the Ministry.

Functional analysis is one of the main methodological approaches in the evaluation of public administration. Its conduct reveals the function of such indicators as legislated and implemented, are fixed, but not implemented, are not fixed, but are executed, "missing" features.

The analysis also provides the basis for decisions on improving the quality of public services, eliminating duplicate and redundant functions and contributes to the effectiveness of public servants.

In order to study the work in the field of labor law and social protection of the population in the leading European countries in a joint project for the functional analysis department invited expert Nenad Rava. During the activity of its services used by the governments of several European countries. On the basis of investigations Nenad Rava will make proposals to modernize and reform the activities of the Ministry with the resources available.

Also, in order to discuss the strategic priorities in the field of labor and social protection with the concerned government and non-governmental organizations held a workshop on the theme "System priorities in employment and social protection".

It was attended by representatives of ministries and agencies, extra-budgetary Pension Fund, "Nuroniy" and other organizations.

The expert presented the presentations on the essence of his work and the description of the methodology of functional analysis.

IA "Jahon"

Uzbekistan's experience in demand by international community

12.03.2015

Steady advancement of Uzbekistan on the path of democratization and liberalization of society and the economy, progress in creating a high quality of living conditions for its citizens and improving their well-being are highly appreciated in the world. This is evidenced by the ratings of numerous international institutions and research organizations, in accordance with which our country goes out to all the higher positions, which evoke a sense of pride and belonging.

Today, Uzbekistan - dynamically developing state and a full member of the world community, which plays an important role in the system of international relations. His wide-ranging experience in implementing democratic and socioeconomic reforms is growing interest in the international community as a successful model of steady progress, experts and political scientists studied in many countries.

This is largely due to the active cooperation of Uzbekistan in the framework of international and regional organizations that are considering our country as an important and time-tested reliable partner in addressing pressing issues on the international agenda.

Along with this, the authoritative international organizations are showing increased interest in the political and economic processes taking place in our country, its successes in sequential reforming the state and the society, ensuring the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, improving their well-being.

In recent years, modern development and achievements of Uzbekistan is increasingly regarded with great interest and are discussed in the framework of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and other organizations.

For example, in the UN headquarters in New York on a regular basis as official documents of the General Assembly adopted the information on the results of large-scale reforms in our country. These documents reveal the results achieved in areas such as maintenance of high rates of economic growth, improving the welfare of the population, reform of the judicial system, education and health, the environment, youth policy, food safety, building and strengthening of civil society and NGOs.

Successful experience in the modernization of the state and society in Uzbekistan is also the subject of increased attention of international institutions within the framework of the UN. Among them - the United Nations Office at Geneva, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations HIV / AIDS, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and others.

Since the beginning of 2015 among the member countries of the United Nations as official documents of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly were distributed informational materials about the development of civil society in Uzbekistan, about the experience of our country in improving the institutional framework of the activities of NGOs, as well as on the results of socio-economic development of Uzbekistan in 2014 and key priorities of economic program for 2015.

In addition, these materials have been distributed to 57 participating countries, 11 cooperation partners of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the institutions and the OSCE field missions, as well as the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the countries of the CIS.

The growing attention and interest of the international community is manifested in a variety of activities - briefings, presentations and meetings, which are held in the UN headquarters in New York and Geneva, the OSCE in Vienna and the CIS in Minsk. This is evidenced by the numerous responses of leaders and representatives of competent intergovernmental bodies, positively assesses the achievements of our country in the field of human rights and interests, the process of democratization of state power and control, liberalization, modernization and diversification of the economy.

In particular, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Andrey Vasilyev stressed that ECE attaches great importance to cooperation with Uzbekistan. "Uzbekistan - is a key country in the Central Asian region, with a dynamic and diversified economy, - he said. - I have more than ten years regularly visit the republic and each time I witness how it is developing intensively. Much attention is paid to supporting small business and private entrepreneurship, service sector, infrastructure development, not only in the capital, but also in remote regions. Uzbekistan is an important partner for the ECE environmental, housing development, innovation development, entrepreneurship and other areas We also actively cooperate in the field of housing and land, and we are very interesting and necessary experience of Uzbekistan in this matter. We hope that cooperation in these areas will continue successfully. "

According to the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, the Republic of Uzbekistan is an important member of this organization. According to his confession, our country plays a significant role in promoting peace, security and friendship on a global scale, makes a contribution to the activities of the OSCE.

In turn, the WHO Regional Director for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab notes that against the background of global and regional financial crises in Uzbekistan has been significant progress in ensuring long-term sustainable development.

It appreciated the efforts made by the country to improve the health and education systems, which play an important role in the formation of harmoniously developed young generation. In particular, according to J.Yakab, Uzbekistan has made good progress in reducing maternal and child mortality, ensuring gender balance, improving the quality of education. Thus, the republic has made a contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Deputy Director of the Regional Office for Europe, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sylvie Motard the high level of cooperation with our country in the field of ecology and promote issues such as the "green economy", protecting the environment and biodiversity. However, she stressed that UNEP adequately appreciate not only bilateral relations, but also a significant contribution of Uzbekistan in regional platforms such as the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).

"I am aware of the upcoming presidential elections in Uzbekistan, which will be held on March 29 of this year, - she said. - This is a very important historical moment in the life of the state. The fact that four candidates are presented as candidates for the top job, says that policy reforms that are being implemented in the country. We, as part of the UN system, very pleased with this circumstance. Taking this opportunity, I want to wish success of upcoming elections".

Head of the Department of International Relations Inter-Parliamentary Union Anda Filip appreciates the active participation of Uzbek women in public life, particularly in the parliamentary activities. In this regard, it also welcomes the implementation of reforms in the country to improve the institute of parliamentarism, expanding and strengthening the powers of the legislature, as well as ensuring parliamentary control over the activities of state bodies. At the same time, as an important factor in achieving sustained progress and Uzbekistan A.Filip notes prevailing in our country an atmosphere of peace, harmony and tolerance between people of different nations and nationalities who are working together for the benefit of their common homeland.

Like a lot of attention and positive evaluation of the international community once again confirm the correctness and effectiveness of deep thoughtfulness elected leadership of the development of Uzbekistan, indicate a wide recognition in the world successes of our country, the full support of its domestic and foreign policies.

IA "Jahon"

ILO: Uzbekistan is adequately cooperating with us

24.01.2015

According to the Council of Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan, the Special Adviser to the Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Kari Tapiola paid a visit to Tashkent.

The main objective of the next working visit K. Tapiola - to inform the social partners of Uzbekistan as the preliminary results of the discussion of the report on the monitoring of child labor in 2014 in the Committee of Experts of the ILO, and that completed all preparatory procedures necessary for the start of the Implementation Plan for Decent labor in Uzbekistan.

During the visit, K. Tapiola, met with the head of the Coordination Council on Child Labour, Chairman of the Federation Council of Trade Unions T.Narbaeva, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Uzbekistan A.Abduhakimov and his first deputy B.Alimuhamedov, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry A.Shayhov, and also visited the Tashkent office of the ILO.

During the meeting, he informed that the Committee of Experts praised the commitment of the republic to develop cooperation with the ILO on forced labor and child labor. In particular, in a positive way, it was noted the signing of the Country Programme on Decent Work in the 2014-2016 years, the adoption of the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan "On additional measures for implementation in the years 2014-2016 ILO conventions ratified by Uzbekistan" conducted with the assistance of ILO experts national monitoring children labor during the cotton campaign of 2014, which confirmed the absence of problems with its systematic use.

Speaking of concrete actions for the development of cooperation between the ILO and Uzbekistan K. Tapiola top priority called country programs for decent work. "The most important thing - for country programs not only isolated, but transferred to the account of the ILO, - he stressed. - Now it's time to start active implementation of approved measures. "

Important among these is the study of the conditions of employment and work in agriculture, the progress and results of which are also interested in the Committee of Experts and the ILO. According to the results of the study in August it plans to hold a "round table" for national and foreign experts.

The meeting was also voiced the position of the ILO on the advisability of closer cooperation with the International Federation of Trade Unions Confederation of Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce with the International Organization of Employers.

Note the International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized UN agencies dedicated to the promotion of social justice, human rights and international law in the field of labor.

Uzbekistan since joining the ILO in 1992 to date has ratified 13 conventions of the international organization. In our country, we carried out extensive work to their consistent implementation and further improvement of labor law.

IA "Jahon"

Occupational safety and health

23.10.2014

Tashkent hosted a training seminar "Occupational safety and health". It was initiated by the Council of Federation of Trade Unions, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, International Labour Organization (ILO).

The event was made by the ILO Viking Husberg and Harry Talliga. Harry Talliga noted that in Uzbekistan, purposeful work on employment and decent working conditions, compliance with safety regulations. The national legislation provides benefits and guarantees in excess of international standards.

Foreign experts also noted the systematic work of trade unions to strengthen the prevention of work-related injuries and occupational diseases. They appreciated the introduction of a system of public control over the safety of working conditions and employers' responsibility in this regard.

The seminar-training farms a presentation to leaders handbook "Safety in farms" and for parents published "Give your children a happy and healthy childhood".

On the progress of the National Child Labour Monitoring in cotton

19.10.2014

According to the Coordination Council on Child Labour, on 18 September in the country with the expert assistance of the International Labour Organisation to conduct national monitoring of child labor in the cotton industry.

Currently, various regions of the country there are 8 regional monitoring teams, consisting of representatives of the Federation of Trade Unions, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Chamber of Commerce.

For the first time in the monitoring process involved representatives of regional samoinitsiativnyh NGOs such as the Association of Teachers 'Murabba' Association on reproductive health, social support for adolescents Center "Lobar" Information and Educational Center of Youth "Istiqbolli avlod" and others.

Monitoring is conducted on the methodology and the use of the software the International Labour Organization. On-site is based on a randomized sample areas, the results of visits by field coordinators provide daily operational information. Volunteers fr om among university students produce a weekly application of encoded information into the database. On October 15 of this year, experts fr om regional monitoring groups completed a total of about 30 thousand km, visited 124 rural districts. During the visits carried out 548 site visits of potential risks, including 247 visits to the professional colleges and academic lyceums and 301 visit farms.

According to the regional monitoring teams, the average percentage of attendance of students of academic lyceums and professional colleges in the sel ected segment is 89%.

For students in schools, academic lyceums and professional colleges for the entire period the cotton harvest is organized work of sports sections, circles deeper study of academic disciplines, foreign languages, functioning societies in applied arts, crafts, science.

All educational institutions are posted ads on the inadmissibility of attracting students to pick cotton under the age of 18 years.

Throughout the heads of educational institutions to issue a warning prosecutors and khokimiyats of their personal responsibility for compliance with the legislation against child labor. There is a written commitment of parents that their children will not be involved in the cotton harvest.

On separate occasions revealed the presence of children in the cotton fields of regional groups monitoring drawn up removal of children, and with the help of labor inspections instituted the case on administrative responsibility.

The data obtained fr om the territorial monitoring groups also suggest that head of the farm to create appropriate conditions for work and leisure cotton pickers. On the field is delivered hot meals and clean drinking water. Regularly conducted payment for the harvested cotton.

The International Labour Organization and provides significant advice and expertise in the national monitoring. To date, with a mission to assist in the monitoring of Andijan, Jizzakh, Samarkand, Syrdarya, Tashkent and Ferghana regions of Uzbekistan visited the ILO A.Hauzen, E.Betullaev, H.Talliga, V.Husberg, S.Glovatskas, which confirmed a high level of organization of work on the monitoring system and the lack of involvement of minors in the cotton harvest.

Interest in the national monitoring has shown, and the International Trade Union Confederation, whose representative A.Leppik October 8 visited schools secondary vocational education Syrdarya region, wh ere he got acquainted with the educational process, has ascertained the high attendance of pupils, the absence of coercion for the cotton harvest.

In addition, representatives of the World Bank in September-October this year to visit the area of observation of Samarkand, Bukhara regions and areas of the Fergana Valley, wh ere Bank projects are being implemented.

According to Acting The heads of the World Bank in Uzbekistan N.Nakvi their representatives visited the field and did not see child labor. They made sure that everything goes in the same vein, as noted in the report of the ILO mission in 2013. All visited farms had contracts with cotton pickers and copies of passports. The youngest collector was 19 years old. It is clear that the work was carried out by the Government and its results were visible. Thus, representatives of the World Bank also have not seen evidence of systemic involvement of children in cotton harvesting, which, in their opinion, the related statements of the ILO over the past year.

Secretariat of the Coordination Council on Child Labour in Uzbekistan

IA "Jahon"

"Fundamental principles and rights at work"

15.10.2014

In Samarkand regional association of trade unions held a regional seminar on "The fundamental principles and rights at work". The organizers of the seminar were the Council of Federation of Trade Unions, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the website http://kasaba.uz/ru/.

It was attended by Senior Consultant INC Anton Leppik, the ILO experts Sergejus Glovackas, Harry Talliga.

The event was marked by systematic work to ensure the implementation of the ILO conventions on child labor, the role and place of trade unions in this process. The representative of the ITUC and the ILO gave presentations on the themes of "Internationally recognized trade union rights", "ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up", "Social dialogue". In accordance with the program of the seminar under the ILO expert moderatorstva Sergejus Glovackas discussions were held with the exchange of views.

- The activity of the participants in the debate suggests that it disposes sufficient knowledge and information about the ILO conventions ratified by the Republic of Uzbekistan, - says a senior consultant INC Anton Leppik. - The subject by the systematic work and its results deserve recognition.

During the seminar, representatives of the ITUC and the ILO visited the enterprise "Samavto" in Samarkand. The guests highly appreciated the work on the protection of workers, in particular, the creation of the necessary conditions for work and leisure, ensuring full protective clothing and personal protective equipment, additional benefits and guarantees to ensure that workers' interests, reflected in the collective agreement between the trade union and the employer.

Senior Consultant INC Anton Leppik got acquainted with the ongoing national monitoring of child labor in the cotton industry in the Syrdarya region. In particular, he visited the cotton fields and Havas Transport College, Academic Lyceum Yangiyer city. During the visit, representatives of the ITUC witnessed to create conditions for full-fledged student learning, particularly learning using the most modern technologies, high level of expertise in specialized subjects and foreign languages, the lack of involvement of students for the cotton harvest, to ensure their full enrollment.

IA "Jahon"

The International Labour Organization supports our republic: a Memorandum of Understanding signed

30.04.2014

According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent hosted the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the International Labour Organization (ILO), with annexed program on decent work in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2014-2016.

The signatories of the document from the Uzbek side were the leaders of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Federation Council of Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, from the ILO side - the head of the ILO Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Under the Memorandum and Programme a cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ILO envisaged in such priority areas as:

- Strengthening social partnership in Uzbekistan to implement the fundamental principles and rights at work;

- Expansion of opportunities for decent employment;

- Improving working conditions and social protection.

At the event, he noted that the signing of the Memorandum, which became the result of a constructive dialogue, consultations and meetings, will further enhance the mutual understanding between Uzbekistan and the ILO. Namely promotion of international labor standards, the promotion of employment through the implementation of active labor market policies, the development of entrepreneurship, strengthen labor protection and extend coverage of social protection.

UNDP Resident Representative and Head of the EU delegation in Uzbekistan expressed willingness to contribute to activities of Uzbekistan and the ILO, which will focus on the practical implementation of the program on decent work in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2014-2016.

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ILO Special Adviser - Uzbekistan fully meets all international legal acts

28.04.2014

As previously reported, Tashkent hosted an international conference "Ensuring labor rights: the experience of Uzbekistan and international labor standards".

It was attended by members of the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, representatives of ministries and departments, international and public organizations of our country, foreign experts.

Addressing the meeting shared their views and vision of the situation on the protection of labor rights.

Special Adviser to the Director General of the International Labour Organization Kari Tapiola:

- Uzbekistan has done significant work to ensure the labor rights of citizens. A solid national legislative framework and to respect fully international legal acts. The scaling up of social partnership is crucial General Agreement between the Government of the country, the Council of Federation of Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce of Uzbekistan. We are interested in further expansion of cooperation with Uzbekistan.

International expert Harri Taliga (Estonia):

- We are convinced that Uzbekistan created a national legislative framework in the workplace is an important and reliable basis for the consistent implementation of reforms aimed at ensuring employment. An effective mechanism for employment of youth is being formed. Uzbekistan through the consistent implementation of the requirements of the ILO Conventions it manifests itself as a reliable partner and is working in this direction concrete successes. It is worthy of special recognition.

Director of the International Department of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Japan Hitochi Takizuma:

- Through participation in the international conference, we learned about the experience of Uzbekistan in the field of labor rights, shared their experience with Uzbek colleagues, we agreed to expand and strengthen our cooperation.

The conference highlighted that formed in Uzbekistan labor law, implemented measures to improve social and labor relations is fully consistent with international standards and give good results, which could be an example for others. In particular, fully guaranteed the right to work and decent pay, there are specific benefits and guarantees for some categories of workers, especially young people, to create decent working conditions for women, they are provided with additional leave to care for a child.

The event has been extensively discussed good results of the General Agreement concluded between the Government, the Council of Federation of Trade Unions and the Chamber of Commerce of Uzbekistan. It contributes to the further improvement of the nature and content of sectoral and regional agreements as well as collective agreements in enterprises, organizations and institutions. These documents provide for such matters as employment of workers, including women and youth, in accordance with their qualifications, creation of additional jobs for the socially vulnerable citizens, the organization of retraining and advanced training of employees.

It was noted that the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan taken systematic measures to enhance the protection of workers' rights. The trade unions of the country assisted in the implementation of government programs to create jobs, carry out public control in this field. Conducted systematic work to involve the trade unions of enterprises and organizations of non-state sector, including joint ventures, private, family-owned businesses.

Conference participants appreciated the experience gained in Uzbekistan to ensure the labor rights of citizens. In particular, it was emphasized that in the context of the global financial and economic crisis in our country achieved great success in stimulating demand for labor, protection of jobs and the expansion of social protection, social dialogue and protecting the rights of employees in the workplace.

There were also heard reports on issues such as labor rights of citizens and how they provide on the basis of national legislation and international standards, the activity of Trade Unions to ensure workers' rights, the role of the International Labour Organization in the implementation of international labor standards.

IA "Jahon"

ON THE MEASURES TAKEN IN UZBEKISTAN TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF CHILD AND FORCED LABOUR

Having chosen the path of building a democratic, secular, legal state, where the provision of human rights and freedoms is the supreme goal, Uzbekistan is one of the first in the region to ratify 13 ILO conventions, including on forced labor, discrimination in employment, minimum age for admission to employment and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and others.

In order to implement the provisions of these conventions, amendments and supplements were made to national legislation aimed at establishing legal guarantees for the children and adults labor and increase the responsibility for its violation.

Legislation and regulations of the Republic of Uzbekistan establish the minimum age for admission to employment, the list of activities and work prohibited for children under the 18 years of age, compulsory education for 12 years, banned forced labor and human trafficking.

In particular, Article 77 of the Labor Code provides the minimum age for admission to employment - 16 years of age, in exceptional cases, with the permission of parents or their substitutes shall be employed from 15 years of age. In July 2009 the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population and the Ministry of Healthcare issued a new edition of the “List of hazardous types of work prohibited for persons under 18 years of age”. According to this list it is forbidden to recruit persons under 18 years of age prohibits in 34 production sectors, in particular, they are not allowed to take 1673 specific professions. More detail information on this list can be found at http://www.lex.uz/pages/GetAct.aspx?lact_id=1503069#1503131.

There is a system of state institutions on prohibition of forced labor, including the worst forms of child labor. The The Special Commission on Affairs of Minors of the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan is responsible for addressing almost all matters related to the situation of children in society, including control over elimination of the worst forms of child labor.

In addition, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population has effective legal inspections for labor protection, supervising over preventing the violations of labor legislation.

The direct control over the observance of the existing legislation is also carried out by the Institute of Ombudsman and its offices in the regions, representatives of international organizations such as ILO and UNICEF, and various NGOs involved in the protection of the rights of children and youth.

However, it should be noted that any violation against children and forced labor strictly punishable by the Uzbek legislation.

According to the Law of Uzbekistan "On combating human trafficking" forced labor or services - referred to the exploitation of people and are classified as human trafficking. In accordance with Article 135 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, trafficking is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 3 to 5 years; the same action committed under the threat of coercion shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of 5 to 8 years.

Over the past year and a half under this Article there had been detected and investigated more than 1,600 criminal cases. 1,100 persons brought to justice, more than 1,700 men and 700 women, including 60 minors were acknowledged as victims.

In order to strengthen the control over the implementation of the requirements of ILO conventions the Coordination Council on Child Labour was established in the Republic of Uzbekistan that was headed by high ranking officials of the Federation Council of Trade Unions, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Chamber of Commerce. It also includes representatives of relevant ministries, agencies and public organizations.

The Coordination Council plays a crucial role in the organization and monitoring of child labor in the cotton industry, organized by Uzbekistan jointly with ILO.

Monitoring of child labor was conducted during the period from the 11th of September to the 31st of October 2013 by ten international experts together with 40 specialists from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Council of Federation of Trade Unions, the Chamber of Commerce and the Council of Farmers of Uzbekistan. All experts previously taken part in special training courses and seminars organized by the ILO experts in accordance with international requirements and using the methodology of ILO-IPEC.

International experts were hired by the ILO itself, without the intervention of the Uzbek side and operated in accordance with the mandate of the ILO and international law. The experts had a high competence, with extensive experience and wide range of knowledge in the implementation of international labor standards, forced labor, child labor, trafficking, agriculture and labor inspection.

Monitoring had been carried out in schools, farms and households (private houses) and mahallas. As a result, there were 806 site visits, 1592 documented interviews (ILO Guidelines form), and unhindered access to the cotton fields, educational institutions and to all the other places visited in unplanned and unagreed schedule. Detailed results of the monitoring (printed and electronic) have been passed directly to the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) in November-December 2013 for consideration.

The monitoring revealed the absence of the use of forced child labor in a systematic manner in the cotton harvest in 2013. Cases of child labor occurred during the cotton harvest were very limited. Appropriate measures to assist children, including their reintegration in the educational institutions have been taken if child labor was revealed.

Perpetrators in bringing child labor were brought to administrative responsibility.

International Organization of Employers (IOE) welcomed the results of the joined monitoring of the ILO and the Uzbek side as a visual demonstration of the commitment of the government and national social partners of Uzbekistan to cooperate with the ILO to eradicate the practice of child labor in the country.

It should also be noted that in 2012 the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Uzbekistan had monitored this matter as well. By the letter of 26 October 2012, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan confirmed that the 2012 were was no mass mobilization of pupils of secondary schools in the cotton harvest.

In a constant manner there is a broad outreach to all categories of workers (heads of organizations, teachers, farmers, self-government bodies, women's and youth organizations) to prevent forced labor, including the worst forms of child labor, as well publishing special guidelines and booklets.

The Council of the Federation of Trade Unions issued tens of thousands of copies of the guidelines “Uzbekistan ratified ILO Conventions” and distributed among employers and self-governing bodies through the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the “Mahalla” Foundation. For these purposes, the Internet has been extensively used, to which more than 10.2 million people, or one third of the total population have access nowadays.

The social partnership mechanisms are applied in implementing the ILO Conventions. There is the general agreement between the Government, trade unions and employers in Uzbekistan, 86 sectorial agreements and directly between enterprises and organizations - over 93 thousand collective agreements.

The collective and contractual agreements cover 96% of all legal entities employing a labor of the trade unions’ members. All collective agreements contain provisions on observance of labor rights, including protection from forced labor in accordance with the ILO Convention No. 105.

Annual reports on the measures that are undertaken by the Republic of Uzbekistan on the prevention of forced labor and the worst forms of child labor are timely submitted to the ILO. Information on implementation of ILO Conventions is available on the webpages of the Embassies of Uzbekistan abroad. Only the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Belgium had sent this type information to over 2,400 addressees.

The evidence of the commitment of Uzbekistan to further develop and strengthen constructive cooperation with ILO on implementation of Conventions on forced and child labor is the adoption in last April of a Decent Work Country Programme for 2014-2016.

The program includes priorities, tasks and indicators on three strategic areas:

1) Strengthening social partnership in Uzbekistan to implement fundamental labor principles and rights at work, including a national policy on the application of international labor standards, an action plan on the application of the conventions on forced and child labor, conditions of work in agriculture, including in the cotton-growing industry;

2) Widening decent employment opportunities, including implementation of active policies of providing full, productive and freely chosen employment, including youth, the effective operation of labor market institutions, the development of entrepreneurship through promotion of self-employment and support for small enterprises;

3) Developing an effective management system of occupational safety and health, conducting out collective bargaining and tripartite consultations on wages, improvement of social protection.

To implement the Strategy, on 27 May 2014 the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan adopted a Resolution on “Additional measures to implement ILO Conventions ratified by the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2014-2016”. The document provides a number of important measures to prevent and eradicate the worst forms of child labor and forced labor, carrying out legal reforms and strengthening the national monitoring system using the ILO-IPEC methodology.

The government of Uzbekistan issued a written (protocol) instructions to all the involved organizations, including hokims, heads of educational institutions and other organizations, on the inadmissibility of mass-involving (interrupting the study process) of children under 18 years of age to the cotton harvest, as well as forced mobilization of workers, without their voluntary consent, by applying harsh penalties in the case of violations the relevant legislation.

From 18 September to 25 October 2014 the national monitoring of child labor in the cotton industry was conducted in accordance with the above mentioned Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers with methodological and expert assistance from the ILO.

Before starting this monitoring, on 16-17 September 2014 Uzbekistan with the assistance of ILO experts (Anton Hausen, E.Betullaeva, Harry Taliga, Anna Sokolova) have been conducted training for members of the regional monitoring groups with participation of more than 60 people.

For the first time representatives of regional self initiative NGOs such as the Association of Teachers “Murabbiy”, Association on reproductive health, Center for social support adolescents "Lobar", Information and Educational Center of Youth "Istiqbolli avlod" and others were involved in the monitoring process.

Taking into account the practical absence of persons under 18 years of age in the cotton fields during the monitoring in 2013, upon the ILO’s suggestion, it was decided to raise the age of pickers to be interviewed up to 20 years of age.

The ILO advice and expert assistance were systematically provided during the monitoring process.

As a whole, from 18 September to 25 October 2014 the experts of the regional monitoring groups covered about 40,000 km, visited 172 rural districts and cities of regional subordination, including 46 - in the course of repeated visits. 711 sites of potential risks were visited, including 316 visits to the professional colleges and academic lyceums and 395 visits to farms. 745 documented interviews had been taken.

In total, 1916 applications have been filled by experts in accordance with the ILO requirements.

All secondary specialized vocational education institutions functioned during the season of the cotton harvest. The average percentage of attendance of students of academic lyceums and professional colleges made up 91%.

Throughout the monitoring period in the cotton fields it was recorded the presence of 49 minors. 41 of them picked cotton and 8 children were present in the field with their parents.

In all these cases the perpetrators were brought to justice. In particular, the leaders of 11 professional colleges in five districts were brought to administrative responsibility for violations of child labor and imposed the fine of more than 8.5 million Uzbek soms (about $3,552.74). Eight heads of farms were brought to administrative responsibility in the two regions and in respect of fines amounting to more than 3.2 mln. soms (about $ 1,337.50).

All cotton in 2014 had been collected by private producers - farmers (their number is 70 thousand farms and they employ more than 1.4 million people), in accordance with the employment contracts concluded in advance for 30-40 days. In addition, 1000 cotton harvesting combines were used, whose number will be increased to 3000 in 2015 and 10000 - in 2016-2017, which will allow the machinery to collect 85% of grown cotton. It should be noted that in 2014 additional workers were recruited to attend in the cotton harvest upon individual employment contracts.

According to Article 2 of the Forced Labour Convention (№29), hiring workers on a voluntary basis to cotton works cannot be considered as forced labour, as workers have the right to terminate their employment at any time, if there is a situation of compulsion.

In order to protect citizens’ labour rights, “hotlines” have been launched and operate under the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions, regional councils of trade unions and territorial associations of trade union organizations. 1994 citizens’ appeals were received in 2013 and 2048 in 2014, which were given legal advices. However no complaints related to the use of forced labour and the worst forms of child labour in cotton works have been filed. It should also be noted that in 2013-2014 there have not been any claims to the courts on forcing by authorities to attend of business organizations in the cotton works.

According to trade unions, in the vast majority of farms of the country the necessary conditions for effective work and good rest for cotton pickers have been created. In particular, hot meals were provided under quality control by medical staff, diversity and calorie purposes. In the fields there were containers with drinking water.

It should be noted that in addition to payment from their permanent place of work, workers had been paid for harvested cotton. Payment had been made in cash at least once in five days in the presence of bank employees, while the advanced pickers were rewarded with valuable gifts on weekly basis.

As far as the issue of forcing businesses to provide funds to pay for food or cotton pickers, it should be noted that since this year, such practice is prohibited by the law.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan adopted the Decree of 12 August 2014 on Regulations on the use by budgetary organizations charitable donations from business entities.

The document stresses that the leadership of governing bodies and regional authorities, as well as budgetary organizations in accordance with legislation take responsibility for forcing business entities to charity.

In this year it is planned to prepare amendments to the legislation, which establish the administrative and criminal responsibility for the forced involvement of businesses to charities and other activities related to the funds diversion.

Some statements that the authorities force pensioners, mothers and other citizens to participate in the cotton harvest under threat of being deprived the social insurance support, on which they depend, are also baseless. There is no any single fact of deprivation of women and pensioners payments, social benefits for some reason.

It would be right to say that members of farmers’ and workers’ families wish to get additional income, which is not prohibited by current law. Moreover, in 2015 Uzbekistan declared “The Year of Care for the Senior Generation” and adopted a State Program, which envisages a complex of measures aimed at improving the health of elder people and to improve the service provided for them. 2246,5 trillion Uzbek soums were allocated for the implementation of the Program.

It should be noted that prior to independence in 1990, the cotton held up to 90 percent of our country’s structure of agricultural lands. Practically there was no crop rotation. The land dwindled, was barbarously used for one purpose only - to grow cotton. The monopoly of cotton and one-sided development of agriculture in the Soviet period led to the fact that in Uzbekistan, which has fertile land and excellent climatic conditions, the consumption of meat, dairy products, grains and even fruit and vegetables and potatoes per capita used to be twice lower than in the other republics of the former Soviet Union. In addition, the intensive cotton production, the use of huge amounts of pesticides and chemicals has led an environmental disaster of the Aral Sea and increased mortality, particularly among children.

After independence as a result of measures taken in the country, the acreage under cotton has been reduced twice and its production - from 6 million tonnes to just over 3 million tons, and the liberated areas given over to food crops.

The fundamental institutional reforms, the essence of which was the total elimination of administrative planning and distribution system (collective farms), the transition to market relations, became the fundamental basis of the reform of agricultural production in our country.

Agricultural lands were transferred to the newly created private farmers with allocation of lands to them on a rental basis, providing necessary privileges and preferences by the Government. In particular, farmers use the simplified tax system - are subject to only one type of tax - a single tax on land. The lending rate for farmers is less than 5 percent.

Farms are provided with all kinds of services. Currently, more than 1,5 thousand mini-banks provide services in rural areas, there are almost 2 thousand machine and tractor parks, about 2,5 thousand stations selling of fuel and mineral fertilizers, there are 1,5 thousand water users' associations in rural areas, more than 350 consulting centers.

There is joint production of the most modern tractors, grain and cotton harvesters in the country together with German companies “Claas” and “Lemken”.

During 2010-2014 planting of new orchards on the area of almost 50 thousand hectares was carried out, including more than 14 thousand hectares of intensive gardening with the use of drip irrigation, as well as vineyards – on the area of 23 thousand hectares. Over 6 million seedlings were delivered from Poland, Serbia and other European countries in order to create intensive orchards.

The volume of agricultural production increased overall by more than 2 times since independence, which, in spite of the growth of the country's population of nearly 10 million people, or over 30 million, allowed to increase in per capita consumption of meat – 1,3 times, milk and milk products – 1,6 times, potatoes – 1,7 times, vegetables - more than 2 times, fruits - almost 4 times.

Currently, Uzbekistan annually produces about 16 million tons of fruit and vegetables. Per capita production is provided by approximately 300 kilograms of vegetables, 75 kg of potatoes and 44 kilos of grapes, which is about three times higher than the optimal consumption rates.

In the first years of independence, more than 5 million tons of wheat had been delivered to the country, but in recent years Uzbekistan produces more than 8 million tons. Today Uzbekistan is a fully self-sufficient state in the issue of providing the population with consumer goods and food products.

The ongoing food program allowed not only to solve the key tasks of providing complete and balanced nutrition for the population, but also to increase the export of fruits and vegetables by almost 5 times – from 1.6 billion USD in 1991 to 5 billion USD in 2014.

Simultaneously, the volume of cotton exports reduced by twice from 1.13 million tons in 1991 to 580 thousand tons in 2014.

In 1991 the share of cotton-fiber in the total exports of Uzbekistan (1.5 billion USD) was 59,7% percent. However, in 2014 this figure fell to 7.4% of the total exports of 13.5 billion USD, while exports of fruits and vegetables increased to 11,9%.

Therefore, all those who spread biased information that the export of cotton-fiber is the main source of foreign currency for Uzbekistan do not know the real situation, or they it deliberately in order to isolate Uzbekistan and inflict damage on sustainable and independent development of the country, and also harm the process of strengthening its relations with the countries of Europe.

Our forecasts suggest that in 2020 the production of fruit and vegetables, grapes and melons would increase by at least 2,3 times in comparison with the outcomes of 2014.

Needless to say that relying on such prospects for the production of fruit and vegetables and grapes, it is necessary, first of all, to continue and deepen a large-scale work on the reform and modernization of agriculture, improvement of land reclamation and irrigation, increasing fertility and soil productivity. The program of measures for irrigated land reclamation for 2013-2017 envisages that within five years 1,4 million hectares of irrigated land will be ameliorated and crop yields will be increased.

Recently the Program of agricultural development for 2015-2019 years has been elaborated. It provides for a further phased optimization of the cotton field by reducing low-yield land, with subsequent placement on the released land fruits, potatoes and other crops, as well as the organization of intensive gardens.

The Program of measures on structural reforms, modernization and diversification of production in 2015-2019 envisages implementation of 391 investment projects in the food industry, construction of more than 2 thousand modern storage facilities with capacity of preserving not less than 1.3 million tons of fruit and vegetables, thus bringing the total storage capacity up to 2 million tons. At the same time it will ensure the development of other logistics networks associated with this sphere.

We highly appreciate the assistance of such institutions as the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, the Global Environment Facility, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and many others, as well as foreign government agencies, which have participated in attracting more than 1.1 billion USD for implementation of more than 100 investment and grant projects aimed at modernizing and improving the efficiency of agriculture, involving existing reserves and capacity to increase production of food crops

We also welcome the allocation 168 million euro by the EU in the framework of development assistance for the period 2014-2020 for the implementation of national projects in Uzbekistan, mainly in the field of rural development. At the same time, it is important to ensure the implementation of pilot projects with an integrated approach, which would cover issues of irrigation, support for small and medium-sized businesses, attraction through pilot projects of new technologies in agricultural production such as intensive gardening, drip irrigation and others.

In order to create an alternative system to child and forced labour, special attention has been paid to the reform of the education system, which provides a 12-year compulsory education, including, in addition to general secondary education, training in academic lyceums and professional colleges, covering all young people under the 18 years of age. The school education in Uzbekistan is conducted in seven languages – Uzbek, Karakalpak, Russian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen and Tajik.

After completion of 9 years of secondary school, the next 3 years the youth receives training in specialized professional colleges and academic lyceums equipped with modern teaching and laboratory, computer and mechanical equipment. There along with general studies young people are also trained on two or three specialties demanded in the labour market.

More than 1500 new professional colleges and academic lyceums have been constructed in Uzbekistan during the years of independence.

Overall the annual spending in Uzbekistan for the development and reform of education accounts for up to 10-12% of GDP, and its share in the state budget expenditures exceed 35%. This fact itself highlights the enormous attention paid to this area.

To prevent the use of child labour more attention is given to monitoring the school attendance of pupils. It should be noted that during the entire school year attendance of the training sessions is maintained at the level of 98-99 percent.

Each case of absence of a student in the classroom without a valid excuse becomes a subject of discussion both at the level of teaching staff and the Mahalla (citizens’ institute of self-governance) with follow-up measures to immediately return a student to the studies and sports activities at the school.

For the past period a specially created fund financed the construction of around 1500 modern public sports facilities for children. Almost every school, college and high school now has outdoor sports fields and indoor gyms and swimming pools equipped with modern sports equipment. Currently in Uzbekistan about 2 million children, including over 840,000 girls, are regularly engaged in more than 30 types of sports activities.

A particular attention is paid in Uzbekistan to the development of health care. 60 per cent of the public budget funds are spent on social protection of the population annually. In 2014, there was an in-depth medical examination of 6.5 million pupils of preschools and schools, professional colleges and high schools, allowing early identification of diseases and their successfully prevention.

In close cooperation with the Republic of Korea, a construction of modern medical children's multi-center has started, with no analogues in the other CIS countries, which will be equipped with high-tech medical equipment.

As a result of the measures taken over the past ten years, the number of children born with congenital malformations decreased by 1.3 times. Among children of 6-15 incidences of acute respiratory viral infections fell by 34.4 per cent, pneumonia - 49.7 per cent, bronchitis - 32.8 per cent, scoliosis - by 32.7 per cent. In general, over the years of independence, infant and maternal mortality has reduced by more than 3 times, and life expectancy of the population has increased for 7 years from 66 to 73.5.

To prevent forced and child labor the Parliament adopted the special Program which is being implement by the Government. Under this Program jobs are created every year and more than 970.000 people get employed in order to increase incomes and living standards. In 2014 about 1 million jobs were created, of which 60 per cent are in rural areas.

Over the past year more than 600 thousand graduates of educational institutions were employed. A significant part of youth is employed by small businesses. Graduates of professional colleges, decided to start their own business, receive about 200 billion soums of preferential microloans, 1.4 times more than in 2013.

Overall, the share of small businesses and private entrepreneurships in the GDP of Uzbekistan has grown from 1 per cent in 1991 to 56 percent in 2014. Currently, this sector of the economy employs more than 76.5 per cent of the working population against 49.7 per cent in 2000.

As a result, the structure of income of the population sees a growing share of income from business activities, which in the years of independence has increased from 10.6 to 52 per cent. This is one of the highest rates in the CIS countries. In contrast to other countries of the former Soviet Union, in Uzbekistan there is no sharp population stratification by income level. The level of differentiation in the population’s income, when compared to the most and least affluent, decreased from 53.3 times to 7.8 times, in the period from 2000 to the present. The threshold value is 10, which is the criterion for social stability in society. The most important thing is that a sense of social justice and security is reflected in mood and well-being of the people. For instance, according to the WHO, in 2012 the number of suicides per 100 thousand population was 8.5 cases in Uzbekistan that is 2-2.5 times lower than in neighboring countries and most of the CIS countries, as well as developed countries in Europe and Asia, including cotton-growing states.

It is important to note that today almost every second family has a personal car, which is particularly satisfying and making feel pride – of domestic production (more than 250 thousand cars of 8 types of Chevrolet cars are produced annually in partnership with the General Motors). A strong focus is on strengthening road safety, along with the increase in the numbers of cars in the country. According to WHO, published in 2013, in Uzbekistan the number of deaths in road accidents per 100 thousand population was almost 2 times less than in the neighboring countries (21.9 – in Kazakhstan, 19,2 – in Kyrgyzstan, 18.1 – in Tajikistan) and in a number of CIS countries (18.6 – in Russia, 18.1 – in Armenia, 15.7 – in Georgia). During the cotton harvest additional measures are taken to ensure enhanced road safety. Therefore that anonymous information distributed in the Internet about the growth of fatal accidents in this period did not correspond to reality.

Today, a study of working conditions and employment practices of labor in agriculture is carried out in cooperation with ILO, which will clarify the concept of forced labor in the cotton harvest.

Steps have been taken to institutionalize free hiring pickers through the labor market institutions.

From child and forced labor prevention’s viewpoint it is important that a national system of monitoring compliance with labor legislation has been formed today in Uzbekistan with the ILO’s assistance, including in the sphere of child and forced labor, corresponding to the ILO’s international standards and the ILO-IPEC’s methodology.

And that is why Uzbekistan can and will monitor compliance with requirements of ILO Convention, with assistance of ILO and involvement of NGOs registered in the country.

Evidence of firm commitment of Uzbekistan to fulfill its international obligations in the field of labor protection is the development in the last two years constructive dialogue and intensified cooperation with the ILO. Since 2013 20 activities were held jointly with the ILO. The representatives of the ILO visited Uzbekistan 9 times.

On 22-23 April 2015 Tashkent hosted an international conference “The role of trade unions in ensuring citizens' rights to decent working conditions: the experience of Uzbekistan” along UNDP, ILO and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

Progress in cooperation between ILO and Uzbekistan discussed at the 103rd Annual International Labor Conference (ILC) held in June 2014, as well as at a meeting of the ILO Committee of Experts.

Due to the fact that in 2013 the cooperation between Uzbekistan and ILO reached high level and, taking into consideration the Uzbek Government’s commitment to fulfill international obligations, the ILC’s 103rd Session did not include Uzbekistan in the list of countries having problems with the implementation of ILO Conventions.

The situation with the implementation of ILO conventions by Uzbekistan (Conventions №182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour and №105 on Abolition of Forced Labour) was not included in a preliminary list of 40 individual cases of concern, which may be considered at the 104th session of the International Labour Conference in June 2015.

Taking into account the positive dynamics in collaboration between Uzbekistan and ILO, we hope that the European Parliament will adopt a decision to ratify this year the Protocol to amend to the Cooperation and Partnership Agreement between Uzbekistan and EU, due to the expiration of the Agreement on trade in textiles signed on April 7, 2011.

In June next year it would be exactly 20 years since the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EU was signed at the level of Heads of States and Governments during the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Italy in June 1996.

The paragraph 1 of Article 43 of this document states that the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Community shall establish economic cooperation aimed at contributing to the process of economic reform and recovery and sustainable development of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Such cooperation shall strengthen existing economic links, to the benefit of both parties.

However, the performance of mutual trade and attraction of the European investments to the Republic of Uzbekistan does not correspond to the goals stated in this agreement and existing bilateral potential.

For instance, in 2013 Uzbekistan's trade with three countries of the Asia-Pacific region (China, South Korea and Japan) exceeded $7 billion, with the CIS countries - more than $12 billion, while trade with the 28 EU countries amounted to only $2.5 billion. In 2014 the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the EU countries amounted to over 1.8 billion Euros. Where, the exports of the EU to Uzbekistan amounted to more than 1.5 billion Euro, while exports of Uzbekistan to the EU - about 234 million Euro, i.e. the EU member states had a surplus in trade with our country - more than 1.3 billion Euros. While about 70% of Uzbekistan's imports from the EU are machinery and equipment, at the same time over 60% of Uzbekistan’s exports to the EU countries are raw materials. Herewith, the export of Uzbekistan textile products to the EU amounted to only 39 million Euros or approximately 18% of the total export of Uzbekistan to the EU member states.

Textile industry of Uzbekistan is one of the national economy priorities aimed at creating new jobs and providing added value, which since the independence has attracted more than $1.8 billion of foreign investments to implement projects in the sphere of cotton processing, creating new and modernizing existing facilities. The processing of cotton yarn has increased from about 7% in 1991 to over 40% last year. Herewith, the export of textile products has increased from $ 8 million in 1991 to $ 1 billion in 2014.

At the same time, a number of Asian countries which have not ratified the ILO Conventions No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and No. 105 concerning Abolition of Forced Labour exported to the EU the textile industry products in the amount from 2.5 to 11 billion Euros. Herewith, as indicated in the newspaper “The Guardian” of 5 May 2014, in one of the South Asian countries there are more than 270 thousand farmer suicides since 1995 due to the inability to return debts. These farmers were mainly engaged in the cultivation of cotton.

It has been noted that one of the reasons of the growth of farmers’ debts is the activity of transnational companies in the introduction of genetically modified cotton. Due to this fact farmers are forced to buy expensive herbicides produced by these companies.

This raises the objective question - why while having deep problems in cotton production in the Asian continent, the web - page of the cotton campaign (http://www.cottoncampaign.org/), which includes more than 20 well-known American and European independent organizations, contains 28 news and 33 reports, published from 2005 to April 2015 which are devoted only to cotton production in Uzbekistan.

It is well known that before 2005 Uzbekistan exported cotton through international traders of the Liverpool Cotton Exchange and from that year began exporting cotton directly through the Tashkent Cotton Fair. And from that moment Uzbekistan faces pressure based on distributing generally the preconceived and biased information aimed at convincing the European trading companies to refuse imports of textile products from Uzbekistan. At the same time, textile products manufactured in Uzbekistan exported to more than 40 countries.

Due to economic diversification and processing industry development the share of agriculture in the country's GDP in 2014 compared with 1991 decreased more than two times from 34% to 17%. At the same time the share of industry in GDP of Uzbekistan increased by almost two times and is now 24.3% compared to 14.2% in 1991.

Uzbekistan attaches priority to develop relations with the EU, and is interested in further strengthening mutual understanding and deepen fruitful and mutually beneficial, constructive and mutually respectful cooperation both multilaterally with the EU institutions, including the European Parliament, and on a bilateral basis.

We hope that objective and unbiased approach based on the assessments and findings of the authoritative international organizations such as ILO, UNICEF, WHO and others will prevail during the consideration on the approval of the Protocol, in order to further develop healthy and stable relationship which correspond to the fundamental interests of the parties, and ensure peace, stability, prosperity in Central Asia.