Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Uzbekistan (Ratification: 2008)

Article 6 of the Convention. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s information that in collaboration with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a four-phase project of assistance to improve the effectiveness of the fight against human trafficking, labour exploitation and illegal migration was implemented in 2014–15. Moreover, the Government, with the financial support from the World Bank was implementing a project (2015–18) aligned with the education sector plan, to improve access to pre-school education as well as creating conditions to improve outcomes for students at general secondary schools. The Committee requested the Government to provide information on the implementation of these projects and their impact in eliminating the worst forms of child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report on the various measures taken within the framework of the fourth phase of the OSCE project of assistance to combat trafficking in persons and illegal migration, including improving interdepartmental coordination and collaboration; improving institutional and legal mechanisms; increasing awareness of trafficking in persons; and building the capacity of investigative and other law enforcement officials. Moreover, a telephone hotline was established and business advices and fact finding visits on developing socially responsible businesses were organized to prevent trafficking in persons and labour exploitation.

The project on Improving Pre-primary and General Secondary Education, implemented by the Ministry of Public Education and funded by the World Bank, have benefited 50,000 children living in rural areas by providing them access to opportunities for quality pre-primary education. In addition, an estimated 300,000 children who were not enrolled in the official pre-primary education system also benefited from school preparation programmes. Around 1,220 rural general secondary schools improved their information and communication technology facilities and teaching resources and over 200,000 teachers and administrators in general secondary schools attended training on best practices in teaching and education management. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any national programmes of action taken or envisaged for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, in particular for combating trafficking of children.