Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 25 June, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo presented the results of a report on human trafficking, which is prepared annually by the US Department of State’s Office for Monitoring and Combating Human Trafficking.

The annual publication documents the efforts of governments of 187 countries and territories, including the United States, to combat trafficking in persons and forced labor. Countries are assessed according to the minimum standards that monitor the “three Ps” of the Palermo Protocol: the prosecution of traffickers, the protection of victims of trafficking, and the prevention of trafficking.

Despite the fact that Uzbekistan remained at the second level of countries in the Tier 2 Watch List, the report noted positive changes in the country and measures taken by the government to change the situation.

“In some countries of Central Asia, governments have a long history of forcing people to work in the cotton industry and other industries. Significant efforts by Uzbekistan to resolve this problem are setting new standards for other countries in the region,” the Secretary of State said during the presentation.

The report notes changes in legislation, cooperation with civil society activists during third-party monitoring in 2019, and the creation of a high-level National Commission to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labor.

This National Commission was created under the leadership of the Chairman of the Senate, and the institution of National Rapporteur was introduced. The commission, through which the prevention efforts were intensified, consists of two subcommittees: on counteracting forced labor under the chairmanship of the Minister of Employment and Labor Relations and combating trafficking in persons under the chairmanship of the Minister of the Interior.

The Report positively noted the increase in the number of labor inspectors of the State Labor Inspectorate of the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, 21172 inspections by the Inspectorate, study of 18332 appeals and the application of administrative penalties for forced labor to 259 officials, including 132 during the cotton campaign.

The measures taken by the Government to prevent cases of forced labor are highlighted. In particular, an increase in administrative responsibility for the admission of forced labor and the introduction of criminal liability for the re-assumption of forced labor after the application of administrative penalties were noted. Work continued on the implementation of international labor standards in national legislation - 4 ILO Conventions were ratified (No. 144 “On Tripartite Consultations”, No. 129 “On Labor Inspection in Agriculture”, No. 81 “Convention on Labor Inspection in Industry and Trade” and the Protocol to 29th Convention “On Forced Labor”).

At the same time, the continuing positive practice of involving representatives of civil society in the monitoring process was noted. In 2019, the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations issued permits to 15 civil activists in order to have unhindered access to monitoring.

The government continues to take steps to reduce the mobilization of citizens for forced cotton picking and comply with the ban on child labor in the fields, including by raising the salaries of cotton pickers, awareness-raising campaigns in collaboration with the ILO, and punishing officials and leaders local administrations for the use of forced labor.

In addition to analyzing the situation, the report provides key recommendations for moving Uzbekistan into the next category in accordance with the extraterritorial application of US national law (Trafficking Victims Protection Act TVPA). Among them:

continue actions to inform citizens about their “right” to refuse to carry out any activity not related to professional duties,

comply with legal procedures and legislation,

increase the number of investigations into cases of human trafficking,

introduce systematic and preventive procedures for identifying victims of trafficking in persons, including those developed jointly with international partners,

continue to work with law enforcement agencies on the proper conduct of cases related to trafficking in persons and methods for officially identifying and assisting potential victims of trafficking in persons,

continue to implement the national action plan to improve working conditions in the agricultural sector,

strengthen the role and involvement of NGOs providing assistance and asylum to victims who were not accepted into state shelters,

oversee private recruitment agencies for recruitment fees and ensure that they are paid by employers rather than potential job candidates.

It should be noted that in a recent interview, the Minister of Employment and Labor Relations, Nozim Khusanov, emphasized that proposals had already been prepared to amend the legislation and that normative acts were expected to be passed, according to which private employment agencies would not pre-charge fees for sending them to work abroad. This fee will be paid by the employer