Latest modern slavery fight updates - FreedomUnited.org

Uzbekistan Claims to End Forced Labor in Cotton Fields

  • Published on
    September 23, 2017
  • News Source Image
  • Category:
    Forced Labor, Law & Policy, Supply Chain
Hero Banner

According to Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Uzbekistan will stop using thousands of state healthcare workers, students, and teachers to harvest cotton this autumn. As reported by Thomson Reuters Foundation, Aripov stated that this change is “forever” and that “students should study, state employees should work.”

The move comes after years of international condemnation of the practice, widely viewed as state-sponsored forced labour. While officially picking cotton was “voluntary” and citizens were paid $0.005 per kilogram of harvested cotton, in practice state employees who refused risked expulsion from their jobs unless they bribed officials or found another person to work in their place.

Walk Free Foundation estimated that 31 million Uzbeks have been living in modern slavery, ranking Uzbekistan as one of the top five worst offenders in the world just behind North Korea. The change also coincides with economic reforms by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev that likely aim to rebuild ties with the West and appeal to foreign investors.

Subscribe

Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.

stop icon A few things we do not tolerate: comments that promote discrimination, prejudice, racism, or xenophobia, as well as personal attacks or profanity. We screen submissions in order to create a space where the entire Freedom United community feels safe to express and exchange thoughtful opinions.

Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

This week

The hidden lives of trafficked women in Spain’s secret brothels

Known for its luxury resorts, pristine beaches, and vibrant cultural heritage, Spain attracts millions of tourists each year. But hidden within this allure lies a harrowing secret, reports The Sun. Due to its language and location, Spain has become a key destination and transit hub for women lured from Latin America and Africa and trafficked into Europe. Trapped in a cycle of debt, forced into relentless sex work, and confined to squalid conditions, these

| Monday December 16, 2024

Read more