Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 21 February, the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labor, together with the International Labor Organization, held an international conference on the theme "Promotion of decent work in order to strengthen social justice in Uzbekistan."

This event was organized in accordance with a special UN resolution in connection with "February 20 - World Day of Social Justice", which has been celebrated annually in the international community since 2009 and is of great importance in terms of further improving labor relations in our country, introducing international labor standards, development of new conclusions and proposals for the development of labor legislation.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the Chairman of the National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labor T. Narbayeva, the Assistant to the Director General of the International Labor Organization, the Head of the Regional Representative Office for Europe and Central Asia H. Koller and over a hundred specialists from a number of international organizations, heads of diplomatic missions of foreign states in Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis, relevant ministries and departments.

Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis T. Narbayeva noted in her speech that due to the strong political will, in recent years our country, together with representatives of civil society, international partner organizations, in particular the International Labor Organization, have implemented comprehensive reforms in the field of labor relations.

- As you know, the labor market of our country is one of the most dynamically developing in the region. The private sector is critical to absorbing the rapidly growing workforce.

At the same time, compliance with international labor standards, ensuring social protection, strengthening public dialogue, achieving gender equality and inclusiveness are the top priorities for Uzbekistan.

In this we look forward to continuing to work on further cooperation and support with you and other international organizations. In the current conditions, it is necessary to strengthen social cooperation, that is, to harmonize the work of the government, employers, workers and representatives of civil society, to strengthen their cohesion.

New measures are required to improve collective bargaining relations between workers and employers, especially in the private sector.

Moreover, we are faced with the task of further strengthening the activities of the Labor Inspectorate and empowering it with new powers. We see the need to develop new measures to ensure employment of the population with the active involvement of the Employment Centers, - noted the Chairman of the Senate.

On 20 December 2022, in his Address to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan, the President of the country Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that the goal of building a New Uzbekistan based on the principle of a social state has been determined. The social state means, first of all, the creation of equal opportunities for people so that they can realize their potential, as well as the necessary conditions for their decent life and poverty reduction.

The conference emphasized that today systematic work is being carried out in the country to promote the principles of decent work, ensure social justice, improve the institutional and legal framework, and introduce international standards.

In particular, state policy is reaching a new level aimed at supporting citizens with disabilities in all spheres of public life, protecting the rights of people with disabilities, involving low-income and unemployed citizens in entrepreneurship, increasing their labor activity and professional training, and creating the necessary conditions for them. .

In this process, the development of the institutional and legal foundations of the labor market is of particular importance. In particular, the Interdepartmental Council for Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction, the State Labor Inspectorate, employment promotion centers, and civil society institutions are successfully operating.

In addition, since 2019, the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labor and the institution of the National Rapporteur on these issues have been effectively operating.

It was noted that in recent years, the National Commission, together with international organizations, primarily the International Labor Organization, has developed systemic measures and achieved concrete results to improve labor relations, eliminate forced labor and promote the principles of decent work. In particular, in 2021, together with the International Labor Organization to promote the principles of decent work in Uzbekistan, a New Country Program on Decent Work in Uzbekistan for 2021-2025 was adopted.

The Program pays special attention to the issues of legal regulation of the sphere, the creation of decent working conditions, and the reduction of informal employment.

– Today, the international community highly appreciates the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan. Changes in the labor system are highly effective, - said H. Koller, Regional Director of the International Labor Organization for Europe and Central Asia.

The participants of the event also praised the achievements of Uzbekistan in promoting social justice, adapting people with disabilities to life, ensuring their employment, social rehabilitation and ensuring the rights of workers. It was recognized that the work carried out on social and labor issues was formed on the basis of international standards.

A number of proposals and recommendations for improving the sphere were made by the Director of the Regional Bureau of the International Labor Organization for Europe and Central Asia H. Koller, the Director of the Regional Bureau of the International Labor Organization for Eastern Europe and Central Asia O. Kulaeva, specialists from a number of international organizations, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions states in Uzbekistan.

The opinions of representatives of the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan, and the Confederation of Employers were also heard.

The event also announced the results of independent monitoring of forced cotton picking for the 2022 cotton harvest. The monitoring was carried out by civil society activists based on the methodology of the International Labor Organization. The monitoring results showed that there were no cases of forced labor and child labor in the field work, 0.24 percent of the persons involved in them could be involved on the basis of forced labor. In 2021, this figure was 1%, and in 2015, when monitoring work began, it was 14%.

At the end of the event, the participants reached an agreement to develop new joint measures to strengthen social justice and promote the principles of decent work in Uzbekistan.