As Uzbekistan celebrates its 120th anniversary of the trade union movement, attention has shifted from commemoration to union consolidation.
Once seen as ceremonial institutions, the country’s trade unions are playing an increasingly active role in shaping labor policy, supporting workplace reforms and balancing the country’s rapid economic transformation with social stability.
At the Congress of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan (FTUU), delegates from across the country joined international observers to assess progress in strengthening workers’ rights and social dialogue.
All participants emphasized that the labor situation in Uzbekistan is undergoing profound changes due to a wave of legal reforms in which trade unions played an active role.
Central to this change is the revised labor law of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which came into force in 2019 and was developed in cooperation with social partners such as the International Labor Organization (ILO) and FTUU.
The new labor law introduced a clearer framework for employment contracts, collective bargaining, and worker protections.
Among its most important provisions are legal requirements for equal pay between men and women and strengthening labor inspection and monitoring systems to strengthen enforcement capacity. The Code is also based on the ILO’s Decent Work agenda, which promotes safe working conditions, formal contracts and social protection.
Trade unions as a force for change
Trade unions in Uzbekistan have evolved from primarily administrative organizations to active agents of reform.
FTUU has expanded its influence beyond traditional public sector workplaces to include the private sector, agricultural seasonal work, and informal employment. This expansion has supported the formalization of labor relations between vulnerable groups.
Trade unions have become directly involved in monitoring safety standards in industries such as textiles and construction, both large employers and historically high-risk sectors.
They have also helped negotiate sectoral social agreements, contributed to minimum wage policy and shaped occupational health reform.
In a private textile industry cluster near Namangan, union monitoring revealed a gender pay gap that revealed one concrete outcome. Subsequent interventions and internal audits resulted in pay adjustments for more than 400 women workers, directly applying the equal pay principle of labor law.
Social dialogue at the core of reform
Structured cooperation between government, employers and workers is the cornerstone of Uzbekistan’s labor reform agenda.
The National Council for Social Partnership of the Republic of Uzbekistan currently functions as a forum for deliberating minimum wage policy, vocational training, occupational safety, and collective bargaining.
According to the ILO’s assessment, this tripartite mechanism is now more closely aligned with international agreements. Both FTUU and employer organizations have been strengthened to engage effectively within themselves.
For example, in 2023, the Council’s tripartite dialogue increased the minimum wage in the cotton sector by 12%, effective from January 1, 2024, benefiting approximately 300,000 agricultural workers, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Labor.
At the local level, social dialogue continues to expand. “Our union is committed to ensuring that every voice is heard, from large companies to small workshops,” says FTUU head of department Nodyla Voytynozharova. “Dialogue is the only way to prevent conflicts before they escalate and ensure sustainable and inclusive working conditions.”
Promoting the “decent work” agenda
Akiko Gono, president of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), praised Uzbekistan for aligning the country’s labor policies with international standards.
“Over the past decade, Uzbekistan has made significant progress in aligning its labor policies with the principles of the International Labor Organization,” Gono said. “Trade unions play an important role in protecting the rights, health and dignity of workers and their families, participating in social dialogue and contributing to the sustainable development of countries.”
Recent data supports this progress. The World Bank notes that wages and salaried employment are rising while the country implements “bold reforms” to strengthen social protection and create better jobs.
“Important achievements have been achieved in the past five years. In parallel with the constructive cooperation between the government, employers’ organizations and trade unions, social dialogue has continued to develop,” said Okunjon Isaev, head of FTUU’s Department for the Protection of Workers’ Socio-Economic Interests.
Unions now help monitor labor contracts, support regularization in agriculture and manufacturing, and play an active role in inspection and grievance mechanisms, particularly regarding occupational health and safety. Their advocacy extends to women, people with disabilities, and temporary and seasonal workers.
Why it matters for investors and businesses
For businesses and investors, Uzbekistan’s evolving labor framework represents both progress and opportunity. Stronger labor rights systems, supported by trade union oversight, reduce the risk of disputes, reputational damage and non-compliance.
Strengthening employment formalization and improving inspection mechanisms will also help companies meet international supply chain standards, especially in key export sectors such as textiles and agribusiness.