Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The US Department of Labor held a briefing on the topic “Annual report on countries’ efforts to eliminate child labor in 2022,” Dunyo news agency reported.

Considering that our country is successfully implementing reforms in the field of eliminating child labor, the US Department of Labor invited the Ambassador of Uzbekistan Furkat Sidikov to speak at this event. The diplomat informed the participants that in recent years, significant work has been done in our country to adapt legislation to international standards; the updated Constitution prohibits forced labor and establishes criminal liability for its use. 

It was noted that according to the results of independent monitoring of the 2022 cotton harvest, no cases of forced or child labor were identified; detailed information was provided on reforms in the field of eradicating child and forced labor.

US Undersecretary of Commerce Thea Lee noted that in 2022, only 4 countries out of 131, namely Uzbekistan, Argentina, Colombia and Côte d’Ivoire, made significant progress.

According to the US Department of Labor, criteria for such an assessment include the existence of laws and regulations prohibiting the worst forms of child labor, executive and institutional mechanisms for addressing complaints and investigating such violations, as well as involvement in the worst forms of child labor, the implementation of social programs to prevent abuse, and the effectiveness of government policies in this direction.