The Workers Rights 
Uzbekistan is strengthening labour inspection and monitoring in preparation for the 2026 cotton harvest with the help of a new training program backed by the International Labour Organisation. Over the course of three days in Tashkent, state labour inspectors, trade union representatives and civil society activists discussed practical ways to enhance the protection of workers’ rights in seasonal agriculture.
The training was held from 24-26 August and organised through the ILO RISE for Impact project at the request of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction. The program included technical presentations and case studies, role-play exercises, group activities and discussions aimed at equipping the participants with the tools to face the challenges of cotton-harvest monitoring.
The scheme underlines the importance of effective labour inspection in periods of intensive seasonal employment. Agricultural workers are especially vulnerable to poor working conditions, occupational safety risks, and potential violations of fundamental labour rights, so it is important to prepare and coordinate before the increase in harvesting activity.
International Labour Organisation (ILO) Focuses On Core Labour Rights
The training focused on the ILO’s fundamental principles and rights at work and their application to cotton-harvest monitoring. Special attention was given to forced labour and child labour, two areas that require strong oversight during large-scale seasonal agricultural activity.
Uzbekistan has ratified all ten of the ILO’s fundamental Conventions, which provides an important framework for the protection of labour rights. The training aimed at reinforcing the practical knowledge on how to apply those principles in inspections and monitoring activities in the cotton sector.
Interviewing techniques were another key part of the program. Case studies and role-play allowed participants to practise applying those techniques in practical situations. Such exercises can help inspectors and other monitoring actors become more confident in identifying concerns and collecting information while ensuring appropriate protections for workers.
Labour Inspectors Are Vital For Workers’ Protection
The program also looked into the functions, powers and responsibilities of labour inspectors within labour administration systems. Effective inspection can help to identify violations and to promote compliance with labour legislation, and it is an important mechanism for the protection of workers in sectors where employment conditions can be difficult to monitor.
Special emphasis was given to the role of labour inspectors in identifying potential forced labour. While labour inspectors do not investigate criminal offences, they are often the first public authorities to witness warning signs and act to protect potential victims, resulting in an appropriate institutional response.
Agricultural inspection brings additional challenges as work sites could be geographically spread out and employment could be seasonal. Inspectors thus need practical ways to organise monitoring activities efficiently, with due regard to labour rights and occupational safety.
More inspection capacity can also boost confidence in labour standards across the cotton supply chain. Effective coordination, clear procedures and regular monitoring can lead to better compliance and help ensure that workers get appropriate protection during the harvest.
Uzbekistan Visits International Labour Inspection Practices
The training in Tashkent also acquainted participants with international approaches to labour inspection campaigns. Presentations drew on good practices of the Senior Labour Inspectors Committee of the European Union, highlighting examples of how coordinated and time-bound inspection campaigns can combine enforcement with communication and awareness.
Participants discussed how inspection campaigns can involve multiple stakeholders and use structured planning, communication, and evaluation. Such methods can help authorities to better prioritise and make sure that monitoring activity remains focused on the most significant labour risks.
The international experience presented during the program also showed the importance of partnerships. Labour inspectorates, trade unions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders may offer different types of knowledge and support that could lead to more comprehensive monitoring.
An important aspect is the adaptation of international practices to the realities of the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan. Cotton harvesting has specific seasonal and geographical features, and therefore the methods of inspection must be practical and meet labour protection standards.
Cotton Harvest Preparations Centre On Better Coordination
The training concluded with a group exercise to identify key challenges, inspection priorities and opportunities for more effective coordination during the 2026 cotton harvest. Participants discussed practical approaches for the organisation of labour inspection and monitoring ahead of the seasonal surge in activity.
Coordination is especially important where more than one organisation is involved in labour monitoring. Good communication between the state authorities and trade unions and civil society can contribute, for example, to reduce duplication, improve information sharing and strengthen the identification of potential problems.
The program also provided an opportunity for participants to share experiences and reflect on practical solutions. This joint approach may assist in fostering a more common understanding of the responsibilities of the labour inspection and in improving cooperation prior to the commencement of the monitoring activities.
In the end, better preparation can help promote more responsive labour protection. Early identification of risks enables authorities and other relevant stakeholders to prioritise before the harvest period, when tackling problems becomes more difficult.
Better Labour Standards Could Boost Uzbekistan’s Cotton Industry
The focus on labour inspection is part of a broader program to improve labour standards in Uzbekistan’s cotton supply chain. Better monitoring can help workers, while at the same time bringing greater transparency and confidence to a vital agricultural sector.
For Uzbekistan, stronger labour institutions can deliver returns far beyond the annual harvest. Better interviewing skills, improved inspection methods and increased co-ordination will lead to a stronger labour administration system in agriculture and other sectors.
The engagement of the ILO also offers a way for international knowledge sharing and technical support. Uzbek institutions can learn from a range of inspection models to shape approaches that fit domestic conditions while respecting recognised international labour principles. Consistent implementation, professional inspections, and effective cooperation will be the key to translating training into practical improvements for workers.
The pre-harvest training shows a proactive strategy for monitoring labour, preparing the inspection authorities and other stakeholders before the peak of the seasonal agricultural activity. Its focus on forced labour, child labour, occupational safety and ethical interviewing provides a broad framework for increased worker protection.
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