The International Labour Organization convened a two-day interactive workshop in Jizzakh on 19–20 May 2026, bringing together cotton-growing communities from the Dustlik district in the Jizzakh region and the Syrdarya district in the Syrdarya region. Organized under the RISE for Impact project, the event included farmers and representatives of local tripartite partners to address the five fundamental principles and rights at work, occupational safety and health, fair recruitment, and emerging agricultural risk insurance mechanisms in Uzbekistan.
The workshop featured practical presentations, group exercises, and interactive discussions designed to enhance understanding of decent work principles and improve conditions in the cotton sector. Participants examined freedom of association and collective bargaining, safe working environments, transparent recruitment, wage transparency, grievance mechanisms, and women's participation in agricultural production. Agricultural insurance drew considerable attention from farmers, particularly regarding crop protection against natural disasters and access to compensation.
Discussions covered recent developments in Uzbekistan's agricultural insurance system, including new mechanisms for safeguarding crops against hail, frost, and drought, as well as practical aspects of compensation procedures, insurance coverage, and available support for farmers. Presentations were delivered by national experts and practitioners, including agronomist Alisher Saydaliyev; Khasan Buriev from Tashkent State Agrarian University; Dilbar Rashidova and Normukhammad Mamedov of the Cotton Breeding and Seed Production and Agrotechnology Research Institute; and Shodier Murtozov from Agrobank. Participants actively engaged in conversations about existing subsidies, support mechanisms, and practical challenges confronting cotton-growing communities.
Representatives of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan outlined ongoing efforts to protect labour rights and foster social dialogue in agriculture. Ruslan Rakhmanov, Deputy Head of the Department for Protection of Socio-Economic Interests of Workers of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan, provided updates on reforms and progress related to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Shohida Begimkulova, Head of the Department for Protection of Socio-Economic Interests of Workers of the Republican Council of the Trade Union of Agro-Industrial Complex Workers, highlighted initiatives aimed at safeguarding the rights and interests of farmers involved in cotton cultivation and other agricultural activities. At the close of the workshop, participants received certificates and information materials developed under the RISE for Impact project.
These materials, containing key messages on the fundamental principles and rights at work in the Uzbek language, are intended to support long-term awareness-raising among farmers, cotton pickers, agricultural workers, and local institutions engaged in cotton cultivation. The workshop was part of broader ILO and partner efforts to strengthen sustainable labour practices, social dialogue, and resilience in Uzbekistan's cotton sector through practical community-based engagement.
Source - https://www.indexbox.io
