“158 officials have been held administratively liable in the 2020 cotton harvest” – State Labor Inspectorate 

According to the results of the monitoring, the State Labor Inspectorate is taking strict measures against forced labor in some regions of the country, the ministry said.

As a result of the monitoring conducted in more than 2,570 organizations, farms and clusters, 158 officials were held administratively liable for non-compliance with labor relations.

Administrative fines in the amount of 372 million 410 thousand soums were imposed on 35 officials for forced labor, 123 officials were fined for not creating decent working and leisure conditions for pickers, not paying their money in a timely manner.

In particular, heads of “Oqrobot Yulduzi” (Kyzyltepa district of the Navoi region), “Khamra Juma”, “Asadbek Sarvarbek” (Navbahor district), “Oydinov Odil Nodira” (Khatirchi district), “Ergash Ruzimov” (Shovot district of the Khorezm region), “Matyakubov Akmal” (Khanka district), “Said ota Madaminov” (Khiva district), “Kuramboyev Inoyat” (Urgench district), “Ganiyev Rustam Ruzmetovich” (Yangibazar district) farms were fined for failing to provide accommodation and meals for cotton pickers.

During the monitoring, it was found that the relevant agreements were not formalized with more than 550 citizens, explanatory work was carried out not only with the heads of farms and clusters, but also with citizens, and the relevant agreements were concluded. In 53 cases, administrative sanctions were imposed on the perpetrators.

The head of the “Saidazim Eshboyev” farm in the Mirzachul district, Jizzakh region, has been held administratively liable for involving volunteer pickers from the Payarik district, Samarkand region, in the cotton harvest without signing a contract with them.

In addition, in 17 local farms and clusters, more than 410 people, who did not receive their harvest money on time, were paid around 173 million soums.

During the investigation of the appeal from the social network, the head of the “Temurbek Hamidbek” farm in the Khiva district, Khorezm region, was brought to administrative responsibility for delaying the payment of wages to cotton pickers from October 14 to 20 this year. 

The State Labor Inspectorate asked citizens, who witnessed cases of forced labor, to call the short number 1176, the hotline (71) 200-06-00 or to contact through the website www.dmi.mehnat.uz.