"UZBEKISTAN: EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT THE USE OF CHILD AND FORCED LABOR"

Informational material under such a title has been circulated in the United Nations Office at Geneva among UN member states.

It notes that the Republic of Uzbekistan from the entry to the International Labour Organization in 1992 ratified 13 ILO conventions, including the Forced Labour and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour and others.
The country carried out extensive work to their consistent implementation and further improvement of labor law.

"In particular, the Uzbek law provides criminal penalties for forced labor and human trafficking, set the minimum age for admission to employment, prohibits the employment of persons under 18 years of age in 34 areas of production, - the document says. - This category of citizens are not allowed to 1673 specific professions".

It is further noted that during the years of independence, the country established a system of public institutions for the prevention of forced labor, including the worst forms of child labor. At the Cabinet of Ministers established a special commission for juveniles, led by the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which is responsible for addressing virtually all matters relating to the situation of children in society, including control over the prevention of the worst forms of child labor.

In addition, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan to implement measures for the protection of labor rights and to prevent violations of labor laws.
Direct control over the observance of the existing legislation is also carried out by the Institute of Ombudsman and its offices in the region, representatives of the same international organizations such as ILO and UNICEF, and various NGOs involved in the protection of the rights of children and youth.

In order to further strengthen the work to prevent the worst forms of child labor established the Coordination Council on Child Labour, which is composed of senior officials of the Council of Federation of Trade Unions, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Board of farmers.

"Coordinating Council played an important role in organizing and monitoring on child labor in the cotton industry, organized jointly by the ILO in Uzbekistan between 11 September and 31 October 2013, - stated in the material. - International experts were hired by the ILO directly, without the intervention of the Uzbek side and operated in accordance with the mandate of the ILO and international law. They are monitored in schools, farms and households (private homes) and mahallas".

It is reported that results of monitoring revealed the absence of the Republic of Uzbekistan of the use of forced child labor in a systematic manner.

As noted in the information material, the commitment of Uzbekistan to further develop and strengthen constructive cooperation with the ILO on the implementation of the Convention №105, is confirmed by "The ILO country program for decent work in Uzbekistan for 2014-2016" adopted in April of this year.

"The program includes three strategic directions, in particular, strengthening social partnership, including a plan of action on the application of conventions on forced and child labor; expanding decent employment opportunities, including young people; development of an effective OSH management system, strengthening of social protection of the population", - the document informs.

In conclusion, its noted that the protection of children’s rights is a priority of domestic and foreign policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The country has taken concrete and effective measures aimed at preventing the use of child and forced labor.

IA "Jahon", Geneva