European Union

Statement 

International Labour Conference
113^th session

 Geneva, 2-13 June 2025

________

Committee on Application of Standards

Uzbekistan

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) 

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No.129)

________

Geneva, 10 June 2025

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International Labour Conference
113^th session 
Geneva, 2-13 June 2025

Committee on Application of Standards 

Uzbekistan

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81)

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No.129)
 

Chair.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. 

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania*, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

1. The EU and its Member States are committed to the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights, including labour rights. We promote universal ratification and effective implementation of fundamental ILO Conventions and support the ILO in developing and promoting international labour standards and supervising their application.

2. Labour inspection, as provided for in ILO Convention No.81, is key in promoting and safeguarding decent working conditions.

3. In 2021 Uzbekistan became a beneficiary of a special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance of the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences, the GSP+, which in addition to generous market access offers a platform to exchange on and promote sustainable development based on Uzbekistan’s commit to the effective implementation of 27  international conventions, particularly on human rights including labour rights and environmental protection and climate change, and good governance. Moreover, the EU and Uzbekistan concluded negotiations in 2022 on an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which aims to extend their relationship into new areas of cooperation. Lastly, the EU supports Uzbekistan’s reform agenda through technical and financial assistance, including concerning labour rights.

4. The moratorium placed on labour inspection in force since September 2018 is a serious violation of the Conventions Nos.81 and 129. We note with deep concern that at present no scheduled inspections are conducted in business entities due to this moratorium on inspections of the financial and economic activities of business entities.

5. In line with the Committee of Experts’ recommendation, we urge the Government to eliminate the temporary ban on inspections and to ensure that labour inspectors are able to undertake labour inspections as often and as thoroughly as is necessary to ensure the effective application of the Conventions. 

6. Furthermore, we note with deep concern the extensive restrictions on labour inspections. We appeal to the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that labour inspectors are not limited in their work. They must be empowered to take visits to workplaces liable to inspection without previous notice, to carry out any examination, test or inquiry which they may consider necessary, to choose not to notify the employer or his representative of their presence, and to undertake labour inspections as often and as thoroughly as is necessary.

7. We also recall the importance of ensuring the labour inspectors treat s absolutely confidential the source of any complaint and give no intimation to the employer that an inspection was made in consequence of such a complaint.

8. Lastly, labour inspectors should be empowered to ensure effective enforcement and adequate penalties such as administrative fines. We reiterate the Committee of Experts’ call to introduce sanctions for cases of obstruction of labour inspectors in the performance of their duties.

9. In this context, we welcome the implementation of the Decent Work Programme 2021-2025. We also welcome the implementation of the ILO project “Improvement of Labour Inspection and Occupation Safety Systems in Uzbekistan” in 2024-2025. We thank the Office for its active engagement in the promotion of labour rights and welcome that Uzbekistan avails itself of ILO technical assistance.

10. We took note of the written information provided by the Government of Uzbekistan, including the rationale that the moratorium introduced on inspections of financial and economic activities of business entities was aimed at accelerating economic development and promoting entrepreneurship. We encourage the Government to provide further information related to the practical application of Convention n°81 and Convention n°129, in order to respond to the Committee of experts’ requests.

11. The EU and its Member States stand ready to support Uzbekistan with the aim to strengthen the Government’s capacity to address the issues raised and in meeting its obligations under the ratified Conventions. We will continue to follow closely the situation in the country. 

Thank you, Chair.

*North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.