Uzbekistan investigates forced labor claims in cotton harvest

Authorities in Uzbekistan are investigating reports of forced labor in the cotton harvest involving schools and threats related to welfare payments.

Photo: Kun.uz

Social media posts have circulated claims that citizens who refuse to participate in the cotton-picking campaign are being warned they will not receive child benefits for children under two years of age. Additionally, there are allegations that schoolteachers are being pressured to recruit people for cotton-picking work.

The National Commission for Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labor has taken these incidents under its control and is monitoring the situation closely.

Citizens who experience such coercion are urged to report the incidents by calling the short numbers 1282 or 1092 or by contacting the Telegram bot @munosibmehnat_bot.