Forced and child labor persist in Turkmen cotton harvest, UN experts say

Public sector employees and children mobilized for cotton picking, raising concerns over labor rights violations

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (MNTV) — The International Labour Organization (ILO) has reported that, despite a formal ban introduced by the Turkmen government in July 2024, forced labor continued during the country’s cotton harvest.

Public sector employees, including teachers and healthcare workers, were reportedly pressured to pick cotton, while minors were also found working in the fields, according to an ILO report cited by The Times of Central Asia.

The ILO’s findings revealed that employees from state institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and kindergartens, were mobilized for cotton picking.

Approximately 20% of surveyed farmers admitted to employing public sector workers in roles ranging from technical staff to professionals like nurses and educators.

Over one-third of these workers reported being coerced into participating, often under threats of wage reductions or dismissal, which the ILO classified as “psychological coercion.”

Despite a legal prohibition on child labor, the report found that 14% of surveyed government workers and 11% of farmers acknowledged that minors were involved in cotton picking.

This practice is largely attributed to economic hardship in rural areas, high unemployment rates, and cultural expectations.

The report also revealed that over 90% of cotton pickers in 2024 were women, working an average of 8.5 hours per day, with shifts often extending beyond this.

Around 80% of these workers had no written employment contracts, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.

Although wages improved compared to previous years—with over 70% of workers earning more than one Turkmen manat per kilogram of cotton, up from just 12%—compensation remained inconsistent, with frequent delays and lack of transparency in payment practices.

The ILO conducted inspections at 472 cotton farms and interviewed nearly 4,700 individuals, including pickers, farmers, and public officials.

However, the report noted that local authorities and farm owners attempted to obstruct monitoring efforts, including misleading inspectors and interfering with their work.

Although the Turkmen government has enacted measures to ban child labor and reduce coercion, the ILO warned that enforcement remains weak.

“Risks persist, particularly when workers face threats of dismissal or fines for refusing to participate in the harvest,” the report stated.

These ongoing labor rights violations could have serious international consequences.

The European Union has recently implemented regulations prohibiting the import of goods produced with forced labor.

In November 2024, EU officials discussed a potential ban on Turkmen cotton imports due to continued labor rights abuses.

The ILO stressed that sustainable reform in Turkmenistan will require greater transparency, stronger oversight mechanisms, and the complete elimination of forced labor practices.