The International Labour Organization and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) are launching a Better Work programme in Uzbekistan to promote labour standards and competitiveness through compliance assessments, training and advisory services.
- The move is being seen as a major milestone for Uzbekistan on its journey to opening up its cotton, textile, and garment production to new export markets.
The Programme: The tripartite constituents of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the ILO, IFC and the Uzbek government will see Better Work act as industry convenor to help ensure labour standards are upheld in the country’s textile and garment factories.
- The programme will initially be operational for 24 months.
- Among the top 10 cotton producers worldwide, the sector in the Central Asian nation has been undergoing significant reforms in recent years.
The MoU stakeholders: The MoU builds on long-term efforts by the Uzbek government, World Bank Group, ILO and other stakeholders to improve labour and environmental standards in cotton fields.
- IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets, has supported the cotton and textiles industry in Uzbekistan since 2016 with advisory support and investments.
- The ILO has had a presence in the textile sector in Uzbekistan since 2013, including by monitoring the cotton harvest, and in 2022 reported the eradication of systemic child and forced labour in the Uzbek cotton production cycle.
- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has provided initial funding for the Better Work Uzbekistan programme.
WHAT THEY SAID:
The programme will support the sustainable growth of textile and garment manufacturing, which has the potential to create thousands of new, decent jobs for mostly women garment workers in rural areas across the country.
— Conor Boyle
Officer-in-Charge
Better Work
We hope Better Work's presence will send a strong signal to global apparel brands and retailers, some of whom are already considering sourcing from Uzbekistan, about the strength and sustainability of the Uzbek textile & garment industry.
— Lukas Casey
Manager — Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services in the Middle East, Central Asia and Türkiye
IFC
