Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 18 August 2021, a regular meeting of the National Commission on Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labor was held.

It was attended by members of the National Commission, representatives of relevant ministries and departments, as well as media workers.

At the meeting, chaired by the Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the National Commission Tanzila Narbaeva, the work carried out in the first half of 2021 to combat human trafficking and forced labor, as well as problems that await their solution, were discussed.

It was noted that over the past period, the process of improving the foundations of national legislation in this area has been consistently continued. In particular, 2 laws, a Presidential Decree and a Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers have been adopted and put into practice. Ratified the International Labor Organization Convention on the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health (Geneva, on 15 June 2006). For the first time in Uzbekistan, a referral system has been introduced for victims of trafficking in persons or alleged victims of trafficking in persons.

The meeting focused on the issues of providing assistance to victims of trafficking in persons, their rehabilitation, as well as protecting the interests of our citizens abroad. It was emphasized that comprehensive assistance is being provided to women victims of trafficking in persons, who returned after a long stay abroad and deported women.

It is noteworthy that the work carried out in our country to combat human trafficking, child labor and forced labor is also widely recognized by the international community. In particular, the International Labor Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the European Union, the Department of State and the US Department of Labor all appreciate the efforts in this direction.

The event also discussed the implementation of the recommendations of the annual report of the US Department of State in practice, an agreement was reached on the development of an appropriate "Roadmap" in this direction.

At the meeting, attention was also paid to issues awaiting their decision on combating human trafficking and forced labor. It was criticized that there are still cases of forced employment by the heads of individual local executive bodies, lower-level structures of ministries and departments.

For example, in the reporting period, the Local Labor Inspectorate identified 41 cases of involving workers in work that is not part of their functional duties. If we talk in the context of spheres, then most cases of forced labor are found in the field of public education, the banking and financial system, in the field of medicine, transport and improvement.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed issues of preventing forced labor in the current cotton picking season, the correct formalization of labor relations, and the creation of decent working and rest conditions for pickers.

The reports of the territorial commissions on the work carried out in the field to combat human trafficking and forced labor were also heard.

An appropriate decision of the National Commission was made on the issues discussed under the agenda, and the tasks ahead were identified.