Seminars were held in the Ahal, Mary and Dashoguz velayats as part of the implementation of the Roadmap for Cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the International Labour Organization (ILO) for 2024-2025.
The events were attended by specialists from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the «Turkmenpagta» State Corporation and their regional institutions, as well as representatives of local organizations of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the National Centre of Trade Unions of Turkmenistan. The purpose of the events was to raise awareness of public authorities, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the local population about the labor rights of citizens and international norms and rules related to the prevention of forced and child labour.
The seminars featured presentations by representatives of the International Labour Organization, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Turkmenistan, the Office of the Ombudsman on the prevention of forced and child labour, and the handling of complaints during cotton picking. As a full member of the ILO since 1993 and a party to the Organization's 10 fundamental conventions, Turkmenistan strives to implement its principles and internationally recognized standards into national legislation and State policy.
As part of the Roadmap for cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the ILO for the period 2024-2025. Since June of this year, an active phase of negotiations, seminars and trainings has begun, aimed at representatives of local authorities, social partners, ordinary residents of the country and aimed at raising public awareness about preventing the mobilization and involvement of child labor in the cotton harvest processes.
In accordance with the additions recently signed in Geneva to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the ILO on the survey of working conditions during cotton harvesting in Turkmenistan in 2023, the parties will continue to work together to improve working conditions and strengthen measures to prevent cases of forced and child labor during cotton harvesting in 2024. Based on this document, ILO review missions to Turkmenistan will begin in the second half of August this year.
Earlier, in July, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan amended the list of jobs, professions and positions with harmful and dangerous working conditions in which the employment of persons under the age of eighteen is not allowed. In particular, the positions «cotton picker» and «cotton grower» were added to the mentioned list. The seminars held in the regions are evidence of Turkmenistan's commitment to its international obligations, not only in the field of labour, but also to ensure fundamental human rights.
