Mirziyoyev: US$130 Billion in Investments Attracted and Millions of Jobs Created in Eight Years

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with representatives of trade unions.

The head of state expressed his deep respect and best wishes to the millions of trade union members.

“Today we set ourselves great goals and confidently move forward on the path of building a New Uzbekistan. In these challenging times, marked by increasing geopolitical and economic tension worldwide, we are determined to strengthen peace and stability in our country, consistently improving the lives of our multiethnic people. No matter how difficult the challenges, by uniting our efforts and working diligently, we overcome all difficulties and obstacles. The enormous role and invaluable contribution of our hardworking and generous people, every citizen, is undeniable.

At this meeting, I am glad to see many individuals who have dedicated their lives to the noble cause of protecting labor and its lawful interests, who have worked productively in this field for many years and earned respect and recognition,” the President noted.

“You know better than anyone else how invaluable human labor and dignity are,” he added.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized that in the current period, as the country builds a socially oriented, people-centered state where human dignity is paramount, the rich knowledge and experience of trade union workers acquire special significance.

He took the opportunity to express sincere gratitude to trade union activists who bring a spirit of diligence, fairness, and encouragement to every enterprise and organization.

Since the early days of reforms, priority has been given to implementing the noble idea “For Human Dignity” through the development of economic and social spheres.

As a result of these efforts, over eight years, US$130 billion in investments have been attracted to the national economy, thousands of new production facilities have been commissioned, and millions of permanent jobs have been created.

By opening broad opportunities for the private sector and creating decent working conditions, per capita income has reached $3,500.

Solid legal foundations have been established to ensure the rights and freedoms of every person, to protect their labor, and guarantee social support.

Particularly important steps include the adoption of the updated Constitution, the new Labor Code, and the laws “On Employment” and “On Trade Unions.”

Representatives of trade unions have been included in the Public Expert Councils under the Parliament, contributing to more reliable protection of workers’ interests in lawmaking.

In New Uzbekistan, the development of a free and strong civil society remains a priority. Support for public institutions has increased 100-fold since 2017, reaching 1.2 trillion soums this year.

At the same time, accountability has been established for interference in civil society institutions and for ignoring the results of public oversight.

Uzbekistan is among the most active countries adopting the standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO), a fact recognized by the global community. Eight years ago, Uzbekistan ratified 12 ILO documents; today, the number has reached 25.

“Eradicating child and forced labor remained one of our most painful challenges for many years. Only thanks to strong political will and our firm position were we able to successfully address this complex issue,” the President said.

The fact that Uzbekistan’s advanced experience in eliminating child and forced labor has been recommended by the ILO as an example for other countries demonstrates international recognition of these achievements.

Uzbek cotton has been removed from the “blacklist” of many leading global brands. The Cotton Campaign has fully lifted the previously imposed restrictions on Uzbek cotton.

Uzbekistan is among the few countries participating in the UN Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection for a Just Transition, as well as the Global Coalition for Social Justice of the ILO. Last year, Uzbekistan was elected as a member of the Administrative Council of the organization.

“Undoubtedly, the achievements we have reached reflect the significant contribution of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan, which counts nearly eight million members and stands as the country’s largest and most grassroots non-governmental organization.

We have created all conditions for the free and independent functioning of trade unions and remain committed to these principles. Going forward, we will continue to implement a firm policy ensuring the right to unionize and non-interference in their activities,” emphasized the President.

The head of state highlighted the active role of trade unions in protecting workers’ labor rights in enterprises and organizations.

In recent years, the lawful rights of nearly 500,000 employees have been defended, with 267 billion soums recovered in their favor.

In addition, compensation totaling 35 billion soums was paid to 1,000 workers injured in workplace accidents.

Furthermore, 13,000 employees who had been unjustly dismissed were reinstated.

The establishment of the Academy of Labor and Social Relations four years ago marked a new stage in trade union activities. The President expressed confidence that the graduates of this institution will become defenders of labor rights in enterprises and organizations, contributing meaningfully to the reinforcement of legality in this area.

New areas of trade union activity enhance their significance and authority not only domestically but also on the international stage.

At the initiative of the Federation, the Council of Trade Unions of Central Asian States was established in Tashkent in 2021. In 2023, the Organization of Trade Unions of Turkic States was founded in Samarkand.

Last year, the Federation became a member of the International Trade Union Confederation, a historic event that elevated its international status to a new level.

The Federation’s work in social protection, promotion of gender equality, safeguarding the health of workers and their families, as well as in the development of culture and sports, has received full support.

The head of state discussed the future tasks for further developing trade union activities and improving labor relations.

The country’s economy continues to grow steadily, and the minimum wage is increased annually to correspondingly raise living standards. However, such decisions are often made unilaterally, based solely on calculations and proposals from state bodies.

From next year, it is proposed to involve the Tripartite Republican Commission on Social and Labor Issues, which includes the Federation of Trade Unions, the Ministry of Employment, and the Employers’ Confederation, in drafting the law on minimum wages. This approach will ensure a balanced method that safeguards workers’ interests when determining minimum pay.

“Human dignity and quality of life are determined not only by the amount of wages but also by the social environment. It is essential to provide workers with housing, quality education, medical and transport services, creating conditions for earning income that meets their vital needs,” the President stressed.

In the context of globalization and digital development, new forms of employment are actively spreading within labor relations.

Thanks to the opportunities created, around six million people in the country today provide for themselves independently through work and income.

Currently, our citizens are employed across dozens of professions on digital platforms — programmers, web designers, artisans, taxi drivers, couriers, and others. Many, especially women, have mastered remote forms of employment. Due to the specialization of mahallas in “driver” sectors, 1.5 million families work from home and earn an income.

Today, these forms of work are becoming an integral part of economic development, and those engaged in them are recognized as full participants in labor relations.

It has been proposed to create an effective system of interaction between trade unions and mahallas.

The Ministry of Employment has been tasked, in cooperation with trade unions, to submit to the Government well-grounded proposals on protecting the labor rights and ensuring occupational safety of citizens working on digital platforms, as well as on insuring their lives and safety.

Trade unions have accumulated substantial experience in protecting women’s labor rights. In particular, they have played a key role in assisting 4.5 million disadvantaged and low-income women through the “Women’s Notebook” system.

It was noted that today all conditions exist for transforming trade unions into a leading force in fostering an active social layer of women. In this regard, a new system under the motto “Trade Unions — For the Interests of Women” has been proposed.

The President called on the Commission and the Federation to support women within this system by implementing new approaches aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for women in the labor market, promoting their self-realization, and increasing their social activity.

It was also proposed to continue supporting women in need of improved housing and living conditions, medical, psychological, and legal assistance, as well as those who have experienced violence, through the “Women’s Notebook” system. Additionally, programs supporting employment and entrepreneurship for women in rural areas will be expanded.

The importance of annual reviews of gender audit results in labor collectives was emphasized, along with the development of targeted strategies in collaboration with employers to ensure gender equality across 14 sectoral trade unions and to create more comfortable working conditions for women.

Trade unions remain the largest organization conducting public oversight of occupational safety.

Over the past five years, they have identified 152,000 violations of labor legislation at enterprises and organizations. It was noted that the actual number of such cases is much higher — in the last three years alone, courts have reviewed over 48,000 labor disputes.

It was emphasized that trade unions should act more actively as mediators and conciliators, helping to resolve conflicts between employers and employees before they reach the courts.

At the same time, the lack of a unified system for recording workplace accidents and occupational diseases was highlighted.

Currently, the recording of accidents and analysis of their causes is still conducted on paper, following outdated norms of a government resolution adopted thirty years ago.

Responsible ministers have been tasked, together with trade unions, to develop and submit a draft resolution to establish a unified system for collecting data on accidents and occupational diseases, maintaining records, analyzing causes, and identifying preventive measures.

At present, the Federation comprises 14 sectoral trade unions.

“Unfortunately, their voices are not yet sufficiently heard when initiatives aimed at reliably protecting workers’ rights in the relevant sectors are proposed. We see that new areas and directions are actively entering our economy, with emerging professions and modern technologies. In such circumstances, shouldn’t sectoral trade unions, together with ministries and agencies, determine specific tasks and objectives? Therefore, I propose to establish a system of regular joint meetings of collegial bodies of ministries, agencies, and sectoral trade unions,” the President emphasized.

It was underlined that this format of dialogue will contribute to strengthening trust and cooperation between the state, employers, and labor collectives, becoming an effective mechanism of interaction.

In cooperation with the International Labour Organization, Uzbekistan is developing a program to ensure decent work by 2030.

Its primary goal is to enhance the value of human labor and create fair and safe conditions for all citizens.

In this context, it was noted that within the program, trade unions, the Ministry of Employment, and the Employers’ Confederation must pay special attention to issues of decent employment, occupational safety, social protection, gender equality, youth engagement, and inclusivity.

Furthermore, it was emphasized that in the context of rapid development of digitalization, artificial intelligence, and the “green” economy, the labor relations system must be aligned with these new realities.

The developing “Decent Work” program will serve as a strategic roadmap, harmoniously linking dynamic economic growth with principles of social justice.

One of the current priorities is also to strengthen social support guarantees for people who have lost their jobs for various reasons, as well as for those who have faced illness or disability in the course of their work.

In this context, the need to accelerate the adoption of the Law on State Social Insurance was emphasized. This law will have direct effect and must clearly define the participation of both employers and employees in the formation of the social insurance fund — a crucial step toward ensuring fairness.

Another important issue is that, amid the rapid development of information and communication technologies, it is vital to provide the public with verified information in a timely and reliable manner.

It was noted that trade unions possess all the necessary resources, conditions, and potential to carry out this task.

It was stressed that trade union organizations, having the broadest audience, should be at the forefront of promoting honest and conscientious labor, as well as among the first to inform the public on issues related to the rule of law in labor relations.

The trade union system operates more than 30 sanatoriums and over 100 children’s health camps, which help restore the health of workers and their children and organize their full-fledged rest.

Over the past five years, around 900,000 people have recovered their health in the sanatoriums, while 800,000 children have rested in the camps.

The recent launch of the Bostan Resort on Lake Issyk-Kul has become another convenience for our compatriots and a symbol of strengthening ties between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

At the same time, it was noted that the existing trade union infrastructure does not yet fully meet the needs of the population.

The Head of State called on regional governors not to remain passive and to approve annual programs to build at least one sanatorium and one health camp in each region — either in cooperation with trade unions or through public-private partnerships using modern project solutions.

“Life constantly confirms one truth: without a deep understanding of history, it is impossible to build the future. Therefore, studying the history of each organization and institution, honoring the memory of those who worked there, and passing on their noble deeds to future generations is our shared duty,” the President said.

In this regard, studies conducted by scholars, industry veterans, and activists confirmed that the trade union movement in our country was founded in 1905. This year, the 120th anniversary of the trade union movement is being widely celebrated across the country.

The Museum of the History of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan, established four years ago in Tashkent, plays an important role in acquainting the general public with materials and exhibits dedicated to this field.

On the occasion of this significant date, the President proposed, as a sign of deep respect and appreciation for the hardworking people of our country, to establish “Trade Union Parks” in each region.

Regional leaders were tasked with coordinating with trade unions to allocate land for the creation of such parks.

“If trade union organizations of enterprises and institutions plant trees on the territories of their organizations and in the mahallas where their employees live, expand green zones, and organize landscaping and cleaning activities, I believe the atmosphere in labor collectives will become completely different,” the President emphasized.

During the meeting, an open dialogue was held with trade union representatives, during which their proposals and initiatives were heard.

“I have once again been convinced that the joint work we have begun benefits every labor collective, every worker, and their family.

Going forward, the noble idea of ‘For the Sake of Human Dignity’ will remain one of the priority directions of reforms in the New Uzbekistan.

On this occasion, I sincerely congratulate you, dear friends, on the 120th anniversary of the trade union movement in Uzbekistan and on the upcoming Trade Union Day.

I wholeheartedly wish you good health, success and prosperity in your responsible and honorable work, as well as well-being, happiness, and abundance to your families,” the President concluded the meeting.