Promoting Decent Work and Good Governance in Uzbekistan’s Cotton and Textile Supply Chain

During the initial phase launched in 2023, Better Work Uzbekistan worked closely with national tripartite partners as well as other ILO projects and development cooperation partners, for a sustainable and competitive garment sector that provides decent jobs, contributes to inclusive growth, and guarantees fundamental rights for workers and employers in Uzbekistan. This project, funded by the Government of Uzbekistan under a Direct Trust Fund (DTF) agreement, is a temporary measure to sustain a certain level of operations for up to nine months, yet at reduced scale, with a reduced team in order to seek funding for the next strategic phase. The project further supports the Government of Uzbekistan and its social partners in strengthening institutional frameworks that promote decent working conditions across the textile and apparel supply chain. It enhances the sector’s alignment with international labour standards, thereby increasing the confidence of European brands in sourcing responsibly from Uzbekistan. It operates a combination of enterprise-level engagement and the promotion of effective social dialogue at all levels—factory, sectoral, and national to foster collaborative solutions and sustainable improvements in working conditions. The three strategic objectives under which Better Work set up operations remain unchanged during this transition phase with some adjustments to specific work streams, including new activities requested by the government and social partners. The three strategic objectives include promoting sustainable, resilient and inclusive enterprises in textile and apparel supply chains; strengthening national constituents’ capacity and supporting broader policy enhancements and reform; as well as supporting trade through responsible business conduct.

Project symbol

UZB/25/01/UZB

Admin unit

BETTERWORK

Start date

16/12/2025

End date

31/10/2026

Total allocation

299940

Total expenditure

Status

Active

41592

Development Partners

Uzbekistan, Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction

Country/Countries

Uzbekistan

Outcomes

Outcome 1: Strong, modernized normative action for social justice