Trade unions in Uzbekistan recover UZS 267 billion in favor of employees

On October 17, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered a speech at a meeting with trade unions and called for accelerating the adoption of the law on state social insurance.

The president praised the efforts of professional associations in protecting the rights of employees in enterprises and organizations. In recent years, trade unions have handled around 500,000 employee complaints and reinstated 13,000 people who had been unlawfully dismissed.

A total of UZS 267 billion has been recovered from employers in favor of workers. In addition, trade unions helped 1,000 people who suffered workplace injuries receive UZS 35 billion in compensation.

Trade unions were also noted for their role as a mechanism of public oversight in labor protection. Since 2020, they have identified more than 152,000 violations of labor laws at enterprises. Over the past three years, courts have reviewed 48,000 labor dispute cases, while the majority of such conflicts were settled by the unions themselves.

However, Uzbekistan still lacks a transparent system for reporting workplace accidents and occupational illnesses. The current process for recording and investigating such cases relies on outdated standards established 30 years ago. Authorities have now been instructed to launch a unified system for registering accidents and diseases, analyzing their causes, and finding effective solutions.

The president also highlighted another problem – the insufficient initiative shown by trade unions. Although 14 sectoral unions operate in Uzbekistan, he said, “their voice is not heard in promoting initiatives to protect workers’ rights.”

To increase their involvement, the government plans to hold regular joint meetings of collegial bodies that include ministries and public institutions. A partnership model based on “state – employer – labor collective” cooperation will be established.

Uzbekistan is also working with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to develop a Decent Work Programme until 2030, the president added. The program will focus on decent employment, occupational safety, gender equality, youth and inclusivity, while also addressing the impact of accelerated digitalization, artificial intelligence, and the green economy on labor relations.