walk free cotton report
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
1/69
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
2/69
2
Table of Contents
Exec utive Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 4
KeyRecommendations.........................................................................................................................................................7To the Government of Uzbekistan ......................................................... ......................................... ...........7
To the International Labor Organization ..................................... ......................................... ..................7
To the World Bank and Asian Development Bank ............................ ......................................... ...........7
To the United States and European Union ................................................. ......................................... ... 8
To Companies That Use Cotton ......................................... ......................................... ............................... 8
Methodology .............................................................................................................................................................9
Introduc tion ............................................................................................................................................................ 13
Forced Labor Sy stem of Cotton Produc tion in 2015..................................................................................... 16
NationalPlanandCoercionofFarmers......................................................................................................................16
PunitiveMeasuresAgainstFarmers............................................................................................................................17
FearandControlthroughCottonMeetings............................................................... .............................................. 18
Forced Mobilization of Labor
in 2015 ....................................................................................................................................................................... 20
MandatoryParticipationintheHarvest.....................................................................................................................21
MobilizationOrders.............................................................................................................................................................22
Students ..........................................................................................................................................................25
Education and Medical Workers ...................................... .......................................... .............................27
PickorPay................................................................................................................................................................................30
MobilizationofTeachersandImpactonEducation...............................................................................................31
MobilizationofMedicalWorkersandImpactonHealthCare........................................................................32
ForcedChildLabor...............................................................................................................................................................33Corruption and Econom ic Opportun ity ........................................................................................................ 35
WageViolationsandLossestoWorkersfromPaymentsandCosts............................................................35
Climate of Fear........................................................................................................................................................39
Coercion and Vulnerability .................................................................... ......................................... ..........41
Persecution of I ndependent Mo nitors .......................................................................................................... 43
HomeBurningandChargesagainstDmitryTikhonov.......................................................................................43
ArrestandSentencingofUktamPardaev..................................................................................................................45
ArbitraryDetentionsandIll-treatmentofElenaUrlaeva..................................................................................45
ArrestsofMalohatEshankulovaandElenaUrlaeva.......................................... .............................................. .... 46
ILO and World Bank Engage ment in Uzbekis tan ....................................................................................... 48
MethodologicalShortcomings..................................................................... .............................................. ................... 50
PublicAwarenessCampaignandFeedbackMechanism...................................................................................52
ILOIndicatorsofForcedLabor.......................................................................................................................................55
Abuse of vulnerability ..... ..... ...... ...... ..... ..... ..... ...... ...... ..... ..... ..... ...... ..... ..... ..... ...... ...... ..... ..... ..... ...... ..... .....55
Deception ......................................................................................................................................................55
Restriction of movement ..................................... .......................................... ......................................... . 56
Isolation ........................................................................................................................................................ 56
Physical and sexual violence ...................................... ......................................... .................................... 56
Intimidation and threats ........................ .......................................... ......................................... ................57
Withholding of wages .................................... .......................................... ......................................... .........57
Debt bondage .............................................................................................................................................. 58 Abusive working and living conditions ...... ...... ...... ..... ..... ..... ...... ..... ..... ..... ...... ..... ..... ..... ...... ...... ..... .... 58
Excessive overtime .................................................................................................................................... 59
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
3/69
3
Table of Contents
Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................... 60
TotheGovernmentofUzbekistan................................................................................................................................60TotheInternationalLaborOrganization.............................. .............................................. ....................................... 61
TotheWorldBank......................................... ............................................... .............................................. ......................... 61
TotheUnitedStatesandEuropeanUnion.................................................................................................................62
ToCompaniesThatUseCotton......................................................................................................................................62
Appendix .................................................................................................................................................................. 64
ListofTerms...........................................................................................................................................................................64
TheUzbekGovernment’sForcedLaborSystemChainofCommand..........................................................65
LegalStandards.....................................................................................................................................................................66
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
4/69
4
Executive Summary
Theevidencefromthe2015cottonharvestinUzbekistanindicatesthatthegovernmenthas
notundertakenreformstoenditssystematicuseofforcedlabor.Yetthe2015cottonharvestin
Uzbekistandifferedfrompreviousyearsinasignificantway:Whilethegovernmentcontinued
toforcemorethanamillionpeopletopickcottonandfarmerstogrowcottonunderthreatofpenalty,itdidsowhilemakingsignificanteffortstoprojecttheappearanceofcooperationwiththe
InternationalLabourOrganization(ILO)andtoclaimcompliancewithitscommitmentstotheWorld
Banktoapplylaborlaws.
TheUzbekgovernmenthadalotatstake.TheWorldBankhasinvestedmorethan$500millionUSD
inUzbekistan’sagriculturalsector.FollowingacomplaintfromUzbekcivilsociety,theBankattached
loancovenantsstipulatingthattheloanscouldbestoppedandsubjecttorepaymentifforcedor
childlaborwasdetectedinprojectareasbymonitorsfromtheInternationalLaborOrganization,
contractedbytheWorldBanktocarryoutlabormonitoringduringtheharvest.
Insteadofgoodfaitheffortstoreform,thegovernmentappearedtodoubledownoncoercion.The
government’s2015“re-optimization”planforagriculturepunishedfarmersindebtorwhofailed
tomeetproductionquotasbytakingbacktheirland.Underanotherplanknownas“Cleaver,”the
primeministerorderedbailiffsandpolicetorepossessthefarmers’propertyfordebtsorunfulfilled
productionquotas.Theyconfiscatedlivestock,tractors,eventelevisionswithoutcourtordersor
valuationprocesses.Asinpreviousyears,thegovernmentimposedcottonproductionquotason
farmersandexertedcontrolovereveryaspectofproduction.Thegovernment’sprocurementprice
forcotton,setatlessthanproductioncosts,andsystemofgovernment-controlledmonopoliesfor
agriculturalinputsandpurchasing,conspiredtokeepfarmersinacycleofcripplingdebt.
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
5/69
5
Toharvestcotton,officialsonceagainforcedmorethanamillionpeople,includingstudents,
teachers,doctors,nurses,andemployeesofgovernmentagenciesandprivatebusinessestothe
cottonfields,againsttheirwillandunderthreatofpenalty,especiallylosingtheirjobs.
Thegovernmentforciblymobilizedteachersandmedicalworkerstothefieldsenmasse,despite
statedpolicycommitmentsnottorecruitfromthesesectors.Peoplepickedcottonforshiftsof
15–40days,workinglonghoursandenduringabysmallivingconditions,includingovercrowding
andinsufficientaccesstosafedrinkingwaterandhygienefacilities.Peoplewiththemeanscould
avoidfieldworkbyhiringreplacementworkerstopickcottonintheirnameorbypayingofftheirsupervisors.Officialsandbusinessowners,themselvesunderpressuretosupportthenational
plan,ordered40%ormoreoftheiremployeestopickcotton,ofteninwrittendirectives.TheUzbek-
GermanforHumanRightsobtainedseveralexamples,includedinanonlinetableofdocuments1,
thatillustratethestateorganizationofforcedlaboronamassivescale.
Uzbekcitizenssubsidizedthegovernment’scotton
industrywiththeirlaborandincomes.Throughextensive
fieldresearchthroughout2015,wefoundthatcotton
workisnotviewedbythevastmajorityofpeopleasan
opportunitytosupplementincomes.Instead,theforced
laborsystemofcottonproductionexactedasignificant
economictollonmanyworkers,whoearnedlittleor
failedtoearnenoughtocovertheircostsandjustify
theassociatedrisksandpersonalandprofessional
disruptions.
Thegovernmentalsounderminededucationandhealth
carebymobilizingteachersandhealthcareworkers
enmasseacrossthecountryforlongshiftsaswellas
dailycottonwork,leavingschoolsandmedicalfacilities
understaffed.Employeeswhoremainedatworkwhiletheircolleaguespickedcottonhadtoworkextrafor
noovertimepaytocovertheircolleagues’absences,
especiallyassomeinstitutionssuchasschoolsand
hospitalsexperiencedtremendouspressuretoappearto
befunctioningnormally.Manycolleges(theequivalent
ofhighschool)anduniversitiessuspendedclasses
entirelyforstudentsattheharvest,or,inthecaseof
somecolleges,nominallyheldclassesonlyforfirst-and
second-yearstudentswhilethird-yearstudentspicked.
Apowerfulclimateoffearpervadedtheharvestseasonandfacilitatedthegovernment’sforced
mobilizationofworkers.Nearlyeveryonewespokewithduringtheseasonindicatedthattheywere
directlythreatenedorunderstoodimplicitthreatsiftheyrefusedtopickcotton,mostcruciallythat
theywouldlosetheirjobs.Theclimateoffearpreventedpeoplefromusingacomplainthotlinerun
bytheLaborMinistryandstate-controlledtradeunionfederation,andfromspeakingopenlytothe
ILO’smonitoringteams,whichwerecomprisedofoneinternationalmemberandfiveofficialsfrom
governmentorgovernment-controlledorganizations.
Thegovernmentunleashedanunprecedentedcampaignofharassmentandpersecutionagainst
independentmonitorstoattempttocoverupitsuseofforcedlaborwhiletakingpainstomake
1 SeeDocumentaryEvidence,availableat:http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.
http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
6/69
6
widespread,massiveforced
mobilizationappearvoluntary.Insome
casesitforcedteachers,students,and
medicalworkerstosignstatements
attestingthattheypickedcottonoftheir
ownwillandagreeingtodisciplinary
measures,includingbeingfiredorexpelled,iftheyfailedtopickcotton.
Itinstructedpeopletolietomonitors
sayingtheycametopickcottonoftheir
ownvolition.Officialsalsorepeatedly
arrested,assaulted,andfabricated
chargesagainstcitizensdocumenting
forcedlabor,includingUzbek-German
Forum’smonitors.
Despitethegovernment’seffortsto
coverupforcedlaborandimpede
effectivemonitoring,theILOconcluded
thatforcedlaborremainsaproblem
andsignificantreformeffortsare
needed.Despitethesefindings,the
Uzbekgovernmentcontinuedto
receiveWorldBankfunds.Asdetailed
inthefinalchapterofthisreport,the
Uzbek-GermanForumurgestheUzbek
governmenttoendthecoercionand
corruptionthatpervadeitscottonsectorandviolatetherightsofits
citizens,andcallsontheWorldBank,
UnitedStates,EuropeanUnionandILO
toholdTashkentaccountableforits
internationalcommitments.
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
7/69
7
Key Recommendations
To the Government of Uzbekistan
• Enforcenationallawsthatprohibittheuseofforcedandchildlaborinalignmentwithratified
ILOconventions;
• Makepublic,high-levelpolicystatementscondemningforcedlabor,specificallyincluding
forcedlaborinthecottonsector,andmakingclearthatallworkshouldbevoluntaryandfairly
compensated;
• Instructgovernmentofficialsatalllevelsandcitizensthatactonbehalfofthegovernmentto
notusecoerciontomobilizeanyonetowork,includingfarmers,children,students,public-
sectorworkers,private-sectorworkers,pensioners,mothersandothersreceivingpublicwelfare
support,andtheunemployed;
• Allowindependentjournalists,humanrightsdefenders,andotherindividualsandorganizations
todocumentandreportconcernsabouttheuseofforcedlaborwithoutfearofreprisals;
• Ensureanimmediate,prompt,independentandeffectiveinvestigationintoreprisalsagainst
independentmonitors;
• RatifyandimplementILOConventionNo.87onFreedomofAssociationandProtectionofthe
RighttoOrganize;and
• Initiateatime-boundplantoreformrootcausesofforcedlaborintheagriculturesector.
To the International Labor Organization
• Establish,monitorandreportonclearbenchmarksforthegovernmentofUzbekistantofulfill
itscommitmentstoimplementthefundamentallaborconventionsoftheILO,includingthe
eliminationofstate-orchestratedforcedlaborofchildrenandadultsinthecottonsector;
• EnsuretheparticipationoftheIOE,ITUC,andInternationalUnionofFoodWorkers(IUF)aswell
asregularconsultationwithindependentUzbekcivilsocietygroupsinthedevelopmentand
implementationofallmonitoringandtechnicalassistanceactivitiesinUzbekistan;
• Raiseconcernsaboutthesafetyandaccessofindependentmonitorspubliclyandatthehighest
levelsandmakeclearthattheirabilitytoworkunimpededisavitalsignofthegovernment’s
goodfaithandrequirementforILOassistance;
To the World Bank and Asian Development Bank
• SuspenddisbursementsuntiltheUzbekgovernmentdemonstratesmeaningfulprogress
reformingtherootcausesofforcedlabour,itsfinancialsystemthatincentivizesofficialstouse
coercionandrepressionofcitizenswhoreportviolations;
• EngageandworkwiththeUzbekgovernmenttodevelopandimplementatime-boundplanto
reformrootcausesofforcedlaborintheagriculturesector;
• Ensurerobustandfullyindependentthird-partymonitoringofcompliancewithcorelabor
conventionsintheprojectareas;
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
8/69
8
• Establishaconfidentialandaccessiblegrievancemechanismandprovideeffectiveremedies,
includinglegalandfinancial,toanypersonwhoissubjectedtoforcedlaborintheprojectareas;
• Takeallnecessarymeasurestopreventreprisalsagainstcommunitymembers,journalists,
andindependentorganizationsformonitoringorreportingonhumanrightsviolationsin
theseareas,forengagingwiththeBank’sprojectmonitors,orforfilingcomplaints,including
byseekinganenforceablecommitmentfromthegovernmentthatitwillnotinterferewithindependentreportingandengagement.
To the United States and European Union
• UrgethegovernmentofUzbekistantoenditsuseofforcedlaborincludingbyimplementingthe
specificrecommendationsabove.
• IntheU.S.,placeUzbekistaninTier3inthe2016GlobalTraffickinginPersonsReportanduntil
thestate-orchestratedforced-laborsystemforcottonproductionisended.
• ExcludecottonfromUzbekistanfrombenefittingfromtradepreferencesundertheGeneralized
SystemofPreferences(GSP)untilthegovernmentofUzbekistanendsitsforced-laborsystemof
cottonproduction.
• Investigateandprosecutecompaniesthatarebenefittingfromorcontributingtotheforced
laborsystemofcottonproductionthatareinviolationofinternationalandnationallaws.
To Companies That Use Cotton
• SigntheCottonPledge“tonotknowinglysourceUzbekcottonforthemanufacturingofanyof
ourproductsuntiltheGovernmentofUzbekistanendsthepracticeofforcedchildandadultlaborinitscottonsector.”
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
9/69
9
Methodology
Ateamof22experiencedmonitorsworking
withtheUzbek-GermanForumforHumanRights(UGF)carriedoutresearchinsixregionsin
Uzbekistan:theTashkent,Syrdarya,Jizzakh,Kashkadarya,Andijan,andBukhararegionsand
inthreedistrictsinKarakalpakstan.2Jizzakh,Syrdarya,andKashkadaryaarethethreeregions
inUzbekistanthatproducethemostcotton.ResidentsofTashkentmobilizedtopickcottonaregenerallysenttooneofthesethreeregions.InmostcasesmonitorsarefluentinbothUzbekand
Russian.In2015ourmonitorscarriedoutresearchthroughoutthecottonproductioncycle,starting
inthespringtimeperiodoffieldpreparationandthroughtheharvest,whichstartedinearly
SeptemberconcludedinearlyNovember.
Ourmonitorshavereceivedextensivetrainingonresearchmethodologybyanexpertinlabor
lawwithmorethan20years’experienceworkingwiththeInternationalLaborOrganization(ILO).
MonitorshaveathoroughknowledgeofUzbeklaborlawaswellasinternationallawsandregulations
concerningforcedlabor.Researchershave,onaverage,fiveyears’experiencemonitoringlaborand
humanrightsissuesrelatedtothecottonharvest.Theyliveintheregionsthattheymonitorand
haveadeepunderstandingofthelocalcontextincludingtheprevalenceoffearinthepopulation.
Theyhaveestablishednetworksofrelatives,neighbors,colleagues,andacquaintanceswhoprovide
informationandareexperiencedinidentifyingtheplacesandinstitutionsthatsendworkersto
pickcotton,andinconductinginterviewsindangerousconditionswithoutputtingrespondentsat
risk.SeveraloftheUzbek-GermanForum’smonitorsthemselvesparticipatedinthecottonharvest.
Monitorsincludefarmers,teachers,andjournalistsfromlocalagriculturalpublications.Theirown
information,supportedbyphotographsandvideo,providedanadditionalkeysourceofinformation.
Ourmonitorsexperiencedsignificant
harassmentandinterferencebythe
Uzbekgovernmentin2015asitmadeeffortstoappearcooperativewithILO
monitoringandcompliantwithWorld
Bankagreementswhilecontinuingto
useforcedlabor.Governmentofficials
attemptedtopreventmonitorsfrom
observingmassmobilizationofpeople
toharvest,speakingwithpeoplebeing
senttopickcotton,visitingcotton
fields,attendingmeetings,orgathering
documents.Severalmonitorsfaced
severereprisalsforconductingthis
work,asexplainedinfurtherdetail
laterinthisreport.Somehadtocurtail
theirmonitoringduetoharassment
andinterference.In2015,monitors
carriedoutresearchusingavarietyof
methods,includingthefollowingsix
mainmethods:
2 Seemonitoringmap.KarakalpakstanisanautonomousrepublicwithinUzbekistanthatcovers160,000square
kilometers(62,000squaremiles)inNorthwesternUzbekistan.Itisthesiteofa$260millionWorldBankfunded
projecttosupportthemodernizationofirrigationandagriculture.Weconductedmonitoringinthreedistricts:
Beruni,Ellikkala,Turtkul,thesitesofWorldBank-fundedprojects.
Ourmonitorswenttothecottonfieldsinformingthepickers
abouttheirrightsandhandingoverinformationflyers.
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
10/69
10
Method 1: Observation and documentation of mobilization of workers and brief interviews
Thelargestorganizedmassmobilizationofworkerstolivenearthefieldsandpickcottonfor
extendedshifts(asopposedtodailyshifts)tookplacefromSeptember6–15.Duringthistime
monitorsvisitedhokimiyats(regionalanddistrictadministrations)andotherlocationswhere
workersweregatheredandsenttothefields,usuallyonbuses.Wherepossible,monitorsconducted
briefinterviewswithworkersaboutthecircumstancesoftheirmobilization,includingvoluntarinessofmobilizationandlengthofshift.Theseinterviewsweregenerallyanonymousgiventherisksto
workers.
Inaddition,overthecourseoftheresearchperiod,monitorsconductedshortinterviewswith
400peoplewhotookdirectpartinthecottonharvestorpaidtoavoidpickingcotton.Throughout
SeptemberandOctobertheUzbek-GermanForumsent42notificationsofconcretecasesofforced
labortolaborunionsinUzbekistan,whichwereoperatingahotlinetoreportforcedlaborin
conjunctionwiththegoverned,andcopiedtheILO.Noneofthesenotificationsreceivedareply.In
threeseparatecases,however,welearnedthatlocalofficialsharassedthevictimsofforcedlabor
becauseofourintervention,includingbywarningthemnottotalktointernationalmonitors.
Method 2: Visits to institutions
Monitorsvisitedinstitutionssuchashospitals,schools,universities,andbusinessesthroughoutthe
cottonharvesttoconductshortinterviews.Ineachregionmonitorsvisitedatleastfiveschools,three
hospitalsorclinics,fivecolleges 3,auniversity,alargemarket,andfivegovernmentinstitutions.
Monitorsdocumentedthenumberofpeoplesenttopickcottonfromeachoftheseinstitutionsand
corroboratedthefindingsinlaterinterviews.Monitorsfound,onaverage,thatbetween25–50%
ofemployeesofeachinstitutionaswellasmoststudentsover18,wereatthefieldsthroughoutthe
harvest.
Method 3: Document collection
Monitorscollecteddocuments
indicatingtheforcednatureof
themobilizationofcottonpickers.
Theevidencegatheredincludes
orderssignedbydirectorsofprivate
enterprisestosendworkerstothe
harvest,decreesbyhokims(districtand
regionalgovernors)orderingemployees
ofpublicinstitutionstoparticipatein
theharvest,notessignedbystudents
declaringtheir“voluntaryparticipation
inthecottonharvest,”andsocialmedia
posts,primarilybystudents,discussing
theconditionsofmobilization,
extortion,andthedifficultlivingand
workingconditionsinthecottonfields.4
3 InUzbekistan,acollegeistheequivalentofhighschooloruppersecondaryschool.First-yearstudentsareusually
16yearsold;second-yearstudentsareusually17;third-yearstudentsareusually18.
4 SeeDocumentaryEvidence,availableat:http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.
http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
11/69
11
Method 4: Local media monitoring
Themonitorstrackedlocalnewspapersthatpublishedarticlespropagandizingthecottonharvestas
wellasotherlocalandinternationalreportingonthecottonharvest.Someofthesearticlesfeature
employeesofvariousinstitutions,includingmedicalworkers,teachers,universitystudentsand
third-yearcollegestudents,workinginthecottonfields.Thearticlesindicatethatmobilizationof
workerswasorganizedbythelocalauthorities,whichalsobestowedprizes,suchasteakettlesorcottonseedoil,onthebestcottonpickers.5
Method 5: Visits to cotton fields
Monitorsvisitedatleastsixhousingfacilitiesforpickersandfivecottonfieldsinvariousregionsto
observeworkers,documentlaborconditions,andinterviewcottonpickers.Duetostrictcontrols,
itwasonlysafeformonitorstoundertakevisitstoworkerhousingintheKhorezmandSyrdarya
regions.Monitorsconductedbriefinterviewswithcottonpickers,primarilycollegeanduniversity
students,andtookphotos,audioandvideorecordingsofinterviewsandworkingconditions.6
Method 6: Detailed interviews
Followingtheharvest,monitorsconducteddetailedinterviewswithpeoplewhopickedcotton
ormadeapayment,usingquestionnairesdevelopedinconsultationwithspecialists,including
legalexpertsandsociologists.Monitorsconducted97detailedinterviews,includingwith25
schoolteachers,25students,10farmers,15employeesofgovernmentinstitutions,15medical
workers,and7entrepreneurs.
5 SeeCottonChronicles2015,Uzbek-GermanForumforHumanRights,availableat:
http://uzbekgermanforum.org/category/cotton-chronicle/.6 SomeofthesephotosandrecordingsareavailableontheindependentnewsandanalysiswebsiteElTuz,
http://www.eltuz.com/?p=557.
http://uzbekgermanforum.org/category/cotton-chronicle/http://www.eltuz.com/?p=557http://www.eltuz.com/?p=557http://uzbekgermanforum.org/category/cotton-chronicle/
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
12/69
12
TheUzbek-GermanForumforHumanRightshasconductedin-depthmonitoringoflaborandhuman
rightsissuesrelatedtothecottonharvestsince2009,andsomeofourmonitorshaveworkedon
theseissuesformanyyearsbeforethat.Inthistime,wehaveconductedmorethandetailed1,000
interviewswithpeopleaffectedbythecottonharvest,visitednumerousmedicalandeducational
facilities,cottonfields,businesses,andlocalgovernmentoffices,collecteddozensofdocuments
indicatingthemassuseofforcedlaborinthecottonharvest,andmonitoredlocalmediareports
abouttheharvest.Readtogether,eachinterviewaddstoafullerandmoredetailedpictureofthesystem.Thisbodyofresearchgivesusadeepunderstandingofthelabordynamicsoftheharvest
andhowtheforcedlaborsystemaffectsindividualsandpublicservices.Italsoallowsustoidentify
trends,developments,andchangesfromyeartoyear.Thisreportdrawsonthataccumulated
knowledgeandexperienceaswellasspecificresearchfrom2015thatshowsthelaborandhuman
rightsissuesfromthisyear.
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
13/69
13
Introduction
In2015thegovernmentofUzbekistancarriedoutjointmonitoringofforcedlaborwiththeILO.Italso
usedunprecedenteddeceptionandrepression,includingarrestsandpersecutionofindependent
monitorstocoveruptheuseofforcedlaborofmorethanamillionofitscitizenstoharvestofcotton,
thecountry’s“whitegold”,whileatthesametimeostensiblycooperatingwithILOmonitorsandattemptingtoshownominalcompliancewithWorldBankagreementsrequiringremedialmeasures
againstlaborviolations.Thegovernmentorderedpostersandbannerswarningcitizensaboutforced
laboratthesametimeasitloadedstudentsontobuses,pullingthemoutofclassesfortwomonths
topickcotton,andhungthosebanners–aftermanyofthebuseshaddeparted–farfromthefields
whereteachers,doctors,nurses,studentsandothers,laboredtofulfilldailypickingquotas.
Thegovernmentwarnedpeopletolietointernationalmonitors,totellthemtheywerepickingcotton
voluntarily,eventhoughtheyriskedlosingtheirjobsandotherpenaltiesiftheyrefused.Atthesame
timeitmade“policycommitments”laudedbytheILOnottorecruitmedicalworkersandteachersto
pickcotton,itforcedmanyofthoseworkerstosignstatementsthattheypickedcottonoftheirown
will,althoughtheywereforcedtoagreetobefiredorfaceotherpunishmentiftheyrefused.While
theILOassertedthatmanyworkersviewtheharvestasaneconomic“opportunity,”teachers,nurses,
andotherpublicsectoremployeeswerepulledfromtheirjobs,workedgruelinghoursintheheat,
sufferedabysmallivingconditions,includingovercrowding,lackofaccesstosafewaterandhygiene
facilities,oftenfarfromtheirfamilies,tofulfilldailypickingquotasunderthreats,harassment,
andhumiliation,allforwagesthatamountedtotheequivalentof$1.50perday.Infact,theharvest
imposedaneconomicburdenonmany,includingthosewhohireddaylaborerstopickcottonfor
them,andthosewhohadtopayexpenses,includingforfoodandtransportation,thatexceededwhat
theyearned.Whilethegovernmentranahotlineforpeopletoregistercomplaintsaboutforced
labor,itarrested,threatened,intimidated,andill-treatedindependentmonitorsseekingtodocument
laborrightsconditions.
Thisstakesofthiscynicalenterprise
arehigh:cotton,astrategicresource
inUzbekistan,netsthegovernment
some$1billionperyearinrevenuefrom
sales.7Whileproclaimed“thepeople’s
riches,”thecottonindustryisacorrupt
enterprisedirectlysubsidizedbythe
peopleofUzbekistanthroughtheir
laborandforcedpaymentsextortedby
governmentofficials.Theforcedlabor
system,whichexploitsthevulnerability
ofmorethanamillionpeople,
contributingtotheirimpoverishment,
generatesrevenuesforatinyelite.
Giventhesestakes,cottonproductionis
highlycentralizedandtightlycontrolled
bytop-levelgovernmentofficials
7 Fordetailedinformationonthecottonproductionsystemanditsfinancialsystem,see:“Uzbekistan’sCottonSector:FinancialFlowsandDistributionofResources,”AlisherIlkhamovandBakhodyrMuradov,OpenSocietyInstitute,
October2014,availableat:http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/uzbekistan-s-cotton-sector-financial-
flows-and-distribution-resources.Forinformationonrevenue,seep.18.
http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/uzbekistan-s-cotton-sector-financial-flows-and-distribution-resourceshttp://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/uzbekistan-s-cotton-sector-financial-flows-and-distribution-resourceshttp://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/uzbekistan-s-cotton-sector-financial-flows-and-distribution-resourceshttp://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/uzbekistan-s-cotton-sector-financial-flows-and-distribution-resources
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
14/69
14
startingwiththepresident.Thegovernmentcommands
everyaspectoftheproduction,processing,sale,and
exportofrawcottonandcottonfiber.Thepresident
andCabinetofMinisterssetnationalpolicyforcotton
production,includingthevarietiesgrownandproduction
quotasforfarmers,andoverseeitsimplementation.The
primeministerdirectstheregionalandlocalhokims(headsofregionalanddistrictadministrations),whobear
personalresponsibilityforfulfillingcottonproduction
quotasintheirareas.8Theprimeministerconducts
regularmeetingsandconferencecallswithlocal
authoritiesandfarmersacrossthecountrytoensure
implementationofthecottonplanduringallphasesof
production,includingcompliancewithdailyharvesting
quotas.9Cottonprofitsareshieldedfrompublic
accountabilityintheSelkhozfond,anextra-budgetary
accountoftheMinistryofFinance,accessibleonlytotop
officials.10
Althoughtheharvestexactsaneconomictollonmany
workers,aportionofpeoplewhopickcottondowork
willinglyfortheeconomicopportunityitprovides.
However,theworkerswillingtopickcottongenerally
appeartobereplacementworkersorotherlaborerswho
wereabletocommandawagepaidbyindividualsor
institutionsorderedtodeliveraharvestquota.Theses
workersparticipatedprimarilyinthe“firstharvest”in
earlySeptember,whencottonwasabundantandeasytopick.Thus,itiscrucialtoassess“willingness”atall
stagesoftheseasonandtoexaminemorecloselythe
circumstancesofthoseworkers,whowantedtobefreeto
workforthehighestpayavailable.
Farmersareforcedtoplantstate-orderedacreageofcottonandwheatorfacethelossoftheirland.
Thefactthattheysignleasesstipulatingtheserequirementsdoesnotmakethemvoluntary.11The
Uzbekgovernmentregularlycoercivelymobilizescitizenstoperformunpaidlabororlow-paying
agriculturalworkthatisinadditiontotheirregularemployment.Intheagriculturalsector,this
includespreparingfieldsforplanting,plantingcotton,weeding,andharvesting.Officialsimpose
8 Despitethegovernment’stightorchestrationofthecottonproductionsystem,oneanalysisconcludes,“These
draconianmethodsdonotresultinincreasedefficiencyofcottonproduction…”Ibid,ExecutiveSummary.SeeThe
UzbekGovernment’sForcedLaborSystemChainofCommandintheAppendix.PresidentialResolutionNo.PP2830,
“OnOrganizationalMeasurestoEnsuretheTimelyandQualityHarvestofthe2014CottonCrop,”September4,
2014.Theresolutionordersregionalanddistricthokims,amongotherofficials,tobear“personalresponsibility”for
thecottonharvest.Thisresolutionisfrom2014,butthisaspectofthesystemremainedunchangedin2015.
9 IbidandHornidge,Anna-KatharinaandShtaltovna,Anastasiya,“AComparativeStudyonCottonProductionin
KazakhstanandUzbekistan,”CenterforDevelopmentResearch(ZEF),UniversityofBonn,2014,http://www.zef.de/
uploads/tx_zefportal/Publications/ZEF-Cotton_Kasachstan-web.pdf ,page13-14.
10 IlhamovandMurodov,p.18.
11 TheILOobservedtheexistenceofacontractdoesnotnegatethepossibilityofforcedlabor,andthattransfersofworkerstotasksunrelatedtotheirordinaryoccupationsraiseaconcernofcontractsbeingusedasatoolfor
compulsorylabor.SeeILOCommitteeofExpertsontheApplicationofConventionsandRecommendations,
IndividualobservationconcerningtheAbolitionofForcedLabourConvention,1957(No.105),Uzbekistan,2015.
http://www.zef.de/uploads/tx_zefportal/Publications/ZEF-Cotton_Kasachstan-web.pdfhttp://www.zef.de/uploads/tx_zefportal/Publications/ZEF-Cotton_Kasachstan-web.pdfhttp://www.zef.de/uploads/tx_zefportal/Publications/ZEF-Cotton_Kasachstan-web.pdfhttp://www.zef.de/uploads/tx_zefportal/Publications/ZEF-Cotton_Kasachstan-web.pdf
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
15/69
15
productionquotasonfarmersforbothwheatandsilkcocoons,andenforcethequotaswiththreats
ofpenalties.Citizens,particularlypublicsectoremployees,areregularlyrequiredtocleanstreets,
paintfences,andplantflowers,especiallyalongmajorroadwaysusedbyhigh-levelofficials.The
governmentrequirespeopletomakeotherforcedcontributionsforpublicorquasi-publicpurposes,
suchascollectingscrappaperandmetal,forroadrepairs,andcity“beautification.”Ininterviews
withus,numerousteachersandstudentsdescribedmakingforcedcontributionstosubscribeto
newspapersandmagazinesandtobringinscrapmetalormakepaymentstohelpschoolsmeetquotasfortheseitems.12
Whilemanypeoplemayaccepttheseintrusionsasafactoflifeorthe“cost”ofemploymentin
Uzbekistan,resignationshouldnotbemistakenforvoluntariness.Inthevastmajorityofcaseswe
documentedin2015andoverthelastsevenyears,state-ledcoercion,notpatriotismordesiretoearn
supplementalincome,ledpeopletoworkinthecottonsector.Thisfeatureoftheforcedlaborsystem
hasremainedunchanged.
DespitetheUzbekgovernment’sattemptedcoverup,theILO’smonitoringreportreaffirmedthe
existenceofforcedlaborinUzbekistan’scottonsector,concluding“theriskofforcedlaborunder
conditionsoforganizedrecruitmentisreal,andnotmerelytheoretical.”13Thereportfindings
include:(1)thepracticesofofficialsresponsibleformeetingcottonquotasdidnotchange;(2)
therewereindicatorsofforcedlaborrelatedtowidespreadorganizedrecruitmentofadultstopick
cotton;and(3)public-sectorworkersintheeducationandhealth-caresectorswerecompelledto
contributelabororpayments.Initsreview,theILOCommitteeofExperts14stronglyurgedtheUzbek
governmenttocontinueworkwiththeILOtoensurecompliancewiththeILOconventionsagainst
forcedlabor.15
12 Regionalandlocalofficialstaskedwithcollectingscrapmetalandpaperimposecollectionquotasonschools.
Childrenarerequiredtobringinacertainamountofscrapmetalorpayafeeforeverykilonotcollected.See
forexample,“Школьников в Узбекистанце продержали взаперти из-за несдачи металлолома[Schoolchildrenin
UzbekistanKeptLockedUpforNotBringingInScrapMetal],”RadioOzodlik,February25,2015,availableat:
http://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/26867626.html .Studentsandteachersalsomentionedtheseforced
contributionsintheirinterviews,forexample,Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithstudentinKashkadarya
region,November5,2015,inwhichthestudentnotesthatthe20,000soum(approximately$3.33USD)he
earnedfrompickingcottonfor40dayswasconfiscatedformandatorysubscriptions.Acollegeinstructortold
us,“Oneproblemwehaveissubscriptionstomagazinesandnewspapers.Everyyearthecollegeissentalist
ofnewspapersandmagazines.Thelistisdividedamongthegroups.Thepricesarenotcheap.Westruggleto
collecttherequiredamountfromthestudentsbecausemanyhaveparentswithoutastableincome…Andthe
newspapersandmagazinesdon’tcomeregularly.Everyteacherisforcedtosubscribebutthenewspapersdon’t
reachus.”Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithacollegeinstructor,Syrdaryaregion,November3,2015.See
also,“Первоклашек в Узбекистане заставляют подписываться на общественно-политический журнал и покупать
камеры видеонаблюдения,[FirstGradersinUzbekistanForcedtoSubscribetoSocial-PoliticalMagazineandBuy
CamerasforVideoSurveillance],RadioOzodlik,December21,2015,availableat:http://www.ozodlik.org/content/
article/27439604.html.
13 InternationalLabourOrganization,“ThirdPartyMonitoringoftheuseofchildandforcedlaborduringthe
Uzbekistan2015CottonHarvest–AnassessmentsubmittedtotheWorldBankbytheInternationalLaborOffice,”
November20,2015.
14 TheCommitteeofExpertsontheApplicationofConventionsandRecommendations(CEACR)isanindependent
bodycomposedoflegalexpertschargedwithexaminingtheapplicationofILOConventionsandRecommendations
byILOmemberStates.TheannualreportoftheCommitteeofExpertscoversnumerousmattersrelatedtotheapplicationofILOstandards.
15 ILOCommitteeofExpertsontheApplicationofConventionsandRecommendations,Individualobservation
concerningtheAbolitionofForcedLabourConvention,1957(No.105),Uzbekistan,2016.
http://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/26867626.htmlhttp://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/27439604.htmlhttp://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/27439604.htmlhttp://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/27439604.htmlhttp://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/27439604.htmlhttp://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/26867626.html
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
16/69
16
Forced Labor System of Cotton
Production in 2015
National Plan and Coercion of Farmers
Thegovernment’sdirectandtotalcontrolofthecotton
sectorsustainsasystemofpatronage,istherootcauseof
forcedlabor,andremainedunalteredin2015.Thesystem
isorganizedfromthetopdownanditsimplementation
involvesofficialsateverylevel. 16Inthefirstquarterof
theyear,thepresident,primeminister,ministersofthe
AgricultureandWaterResources,theEconomy,Finance,
ForeignEconomicRelations,andInvestmentsandTrade
ministries,andrepresentativesfromthestate-controlled
cottonassociationsetthenationalproductiontarget. 17
Theprimeministerissuedquotastotheregionalhokims,
who,withthecottonassociation,imposedproduction
quotasonfarmersthroughtheirlandleaseagreements
andprocurementcontracts.Farmers,whodonotown
theirlandbutleaseitfromthegovernment,were,asin
previousyears,obligatedtoselltheircottontooneof
thestate-controlledginsatthestateprice.TheFinance
Ministrysettheprocurementpriceforcotton–theprice
paidtofarmers–belowthegovernment’sownestimate
ofproductioncosts.18Thegovernmentalsoestablishes
theratespaidtoworkersforharvesting,whicharesubstantiallylowerthanmarketwages,perpetuatingthe
needforforcedlabor.
TheforcedlaborsystemofcottonproductioninUzbekistanbeginswithfarmers,affectingmillions. 19
Manyfarmers,whomustuseinputsandagriculturalservicessoldbygovernment-controlled
monopolies,believethatproductionplansarepunitiveandarbitrary.Theplansandconsequences
forfailuretofulfillthemcontributetofarmers’vulnerabilityandleavemanyfarmersateconomic
disadvantage.Themostprofitablecropsforfarmersarehorticulturalproducts,suchasfruitsand
vegetables.20Yetthegovernmentrequiresmanyfarmerstodedicatesignificantlandtocottonand
16 See:TheUzbekGovernment’sForcedLabourSystemChainofCommand,availableat:
http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/.
17 Thisassociation,knownasKhlopkoprominRussianandUzpakhtasanoatinUzbek,isthestate-controlled
associationresponsibleforprocurementandsalesofrawcottonandginning.
18 IlkhamovandMuradov,pp.20–23.
19 AccordingtoaWorldBankestimate,therearesome4.7millionsmallfarmsinUzbekistanmostofwhichare
operatedbypoorhouseholds,and21,000largerfarms.Uzbekistan:StrengtheningtheHorticultureValueChain,
WorldBankPolicyNote,Khidirov,Dilshod;Larson,DonaldF.;Schuman,Irina;Abstract,January1,2015,available
at:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-strengthening-horticulture-value-
chain.
20 AWorldBankanalysisconcludes:“Evidenceinthisnotesuggeststhatgrowingfruitandvegetablesisamongthe
mostprofitableactivitiesonbothdehkan[smallpeasantfarms]andprivatefarmsand,overthelasttenyears,
theincomesthoseactivitiesgeneratecomprisedagrowingshareofnationalGDP.Horticulturalexportearningshavealsosurgedinrecentyears,growingfromUSD373millionin2006toUSD1.16billionin2010.Uzbekistan
hasspecialagro-ecologicalconditionsthatsetitapartfrommostcountriesandprovidesthebasisforits
horticulturesubsector.Likeagricultureasawhole,thesubsectorbenefitsgreatlyfrompoliciesthatsupportbasic
http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-strengthening-horticulture-value-chainhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-strengthening-horticulture-value-chainhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-strengthening-horticulture-value-chainhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-strengthening-horticulture-value-chainhttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
17/69
17
wheatproductionandtofulfillannualproductionquotasofbothcrops,limitingtheirabilitytomake
aprofit.Farmersoftenenterintoinformalagreementswiththelocalhokiminordertogrowmore
profitablecropsandcompensateforthedebtstheyoftenincurtofulfilltheircottonquotas.Afarmer
fromSyrdaryatoldus
The district hokim sets the [cotton] plan. The hokim meets with all the foremen of the
territory to determine the fertility of the land. After he gathers all the information, heimposes the state production plan on the farmers. Although he knows how much the
harvest depends on the strength of the land, he always makes the quota higher. And so
some farmers can’t even meet half of the production targets. Farmers that have a good
relationship with the hokim and his team of advisors use any means to try to get lower
quotas. They will even pay bribes to lower their production quotas and then secretly plant
different crops. 21
Punitive Measures Against Farmers
In2015thegovernmentreliedonlawenforcement
structurestomonitorandcontrolvariousaspectsof
agricultureandinstillfearinfarmers.Policeregularly
patrolledcottonfields,inspectedfarms,andmonitored
bothworkersandtheprogressoftheharvest.The
legalbasisforthispresenceisunclear,althoughthe
messagetofarmerswasunmistakable:theyfaceserious
consequencesforfailureorerror.22Thefarmerfrom
Syrdaryasaid,“Whenworkersarriveatyourfields,you
becomethecenterofattentiontothedistrictofficials.
Theycometoinspect–theforeman,prosecutors,police.
Youneedtoprovideinformationabouthowtheharvestisgoingtoday,whoispicking,howmanypickers,andtell
thecottoncollectionheadquartershowmuchcottonI
willdelivertoday…”23
In2015thegovernmentlaunchedanagricultural“re-
optimization”plantoreducethesizeofmostagricultural
landallotments.24Italsoimplementedaplanknownas
“Cleaver”(OiboltainUzbek),underwhichfarmersin
debtwererequiredtogiveuptheirlandlocalofficials
repossessedthelandandpossessionsoffarmerswhohad
researchinagronomyandpost-harvesttechnologies,frompoliciesthatsupportprivateinvestmentandefficient
markets,andfrompoliciesthatpromotethegoodstewardshipofnaturalresources.”WorldBankPolicyNote,
“Uzbekistan:StrengtheningtheHorticultureValueChain,”Khidirov,Dilshod;Larson,DonaldF.;Schuman,Irina;
abstract,January1,2015,availableat:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-
strengthening-horticulture-value-chain.
21 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithafarmer,Syrdaryaregion,November10,2015.
22 RadioOzodlikreportedonthesuicidesoftwofarmers,oneinJuneandoneinJuly,whofailedtomeetthewheat
productionquotaandfacedotherproblemswiththeirfarmsandweresubjectedtoseverehumiliation,and
threateninganddegradingtreatmentbythehokimandlocalofficials.See“В Узбекистане оскорбления властей
вынудили фермера покончить с собой[InUzbekistaninsultsbyofficialsforcedfarmertokillhimself],”Radio
Ozodlik,July4,2015,availableat:http://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/27109836.html.
23 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithafarmer,Syrdaryaregion,November10,2015.24 Overthelast13years,Uzbekistanhasundertakenaseriesofagriculturalreformsdesignedto“optimize”production
byincreasingordecreasingtheamountoflandallocatedtofarmersandredistributinglandassignments.Uzbek-
GermanForuminterviewwithafarmer,Jizzakhregion,October2015.
Farmerswhodonotowntheirlandbut
leaseitfromthegovernment,were,asin
previousyears,obligatedtogrowcottonand
sellittooneofthestate-controlledginsat
thestateprice.
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-strengthening-horticulture-value-chainhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-strengthening-horticulture-value-chainhttp://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/27109836.htmlhttp://www.ozodlik.org/content/article/27109836.htmlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-strengthening-horticulture-value-chainhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/01/24003407/uzbekistan-strengthening-horticulture-value-chain
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
18/69
18
failedtomeetproductionquotasforcottonorwheatorincurreddebts.25Inaconferencecallwith
localauthoritiesandfarmersonOctober12,2015,ShavkatMirziyaev,Uzbekistan’sprimeminister,
orderedlocalofficialstousecourtbailiffsandpolicetotakepropertyfromindebtedfarmers.A
farmerfromNamanganwhowasonthecalltoldRadioOzodlikthattheprimeministersaid,“Goto
farmers’fieldsandtellthemtofulfillthe[production]plan.Gotothehomesoffarmersindebt,who
can’trepaytheircredit,taketheircars,livestock,andiftherearenone,taketheslatefromtheir
roofs!”26AfarmerfromSyrdaryadescribedtheCleaverplan:
They have found a good way to deal [with people who fail to produce the quota]. The police
and prosecutors come and seize your other crops. The farmer can never make a profit
then. It’s a big deal if he can even cover his expenses for cotton. As far as I know, there are
no farmers who are not in debt to the banks. Everyone is in debt millions [of soum]. To cover
them, they seize our vegetable crops, wheat, rice, and confiscate our belongings to pay the
state banks. 27
AfarmerfromKashkadaryasaid:
I didn’t fulfill the cotton production plan this year, but I don’t have any debt. But because
I didn’t meet the quota the police came and took my brother’s car. We have a family farm.
They haven’t given it back. The [police] go to the houses of people with a lot of debt and take
everything, anything they can find, without any documents. If [the farmer] has cattle, they
sell the cattle… 28
AfarmerfromJizzakhwhodidnotmeethiscottonproductionquotadescribedindetailhisdebts
tovariousgovernment-controlledsuppliers,includingfordieselfuel,fertilizer,andtheuseofa
combineforharvestinghiswheatcrop.Hesaid:
I finished the year in debt 60 million soum (approximately $10,000 USD) from my bankcredit. [Prime Minister] Mirziyaev’s Cleaver group took 10 sheep, three cows, as well as
my tractor and cultivator from my home. They closed my farm. Now I don’t know what will
happen… 29
Fear and Control through Cotton Meetings
Throughout2015,regionalhokimswereagainheldresponsibleforensuringfarmersgrewenough
andotherspickedenoughcottontocompletetheirportionofthenationalcottonproductionplan.
Hokimsdirecteddistrictandlocalofficialsintheirregionstoimplementlaborrecruitmentplans.
Daily“cottonmeetings”playedakeyroleinoverseeingandenforcingcottonharvestpolicy.The
primeministerorganizedregularmeetingsbyconferencecallwithlocalofficialsandfarmers
acrossthecountrybeforeandthroughoutthecottonseason.Regionalanddistricthokimsalso
convenedcottonmeetingsthroughouttheharvestseason,andpresidedoverthemaccompaniedby
localpolice,prosecutors,taxinspectors,andotherofficials.Farmers,administratorsofeducation,
25 «Убийственная кампания»Мирзияева заработала полным ходом – десятки фермеров лишились имущества
[Mirziyaev’s‘MurderousCampaign’HasHadCompleteSuccess–TensofFarmershaveLostTheirProperty”],Radio
Liberty,October23,2015,availableat:http://rus.ozodlik.org/content/article/27321803.html.Uzbek-GermanForum
interviewwithfarmer,Kashkadaryaregion,December11,2015.
26 “Премьер-министр Узбекистана начал «убийственную» кампанию против фермеров[ThePrimeMinisterof
UzbekistanhasBeguna‘Murderous’CampaignAgainstFarmers,”],RadioOzodlik,October14,2015,availableat:
http://rus.ozodlik.org/content/article/27305585.html.27 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithafarmer,Syrdaryaregion,November10,2015.
28 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithfarmer,Kashkadaryaregion,December11,2015.
29 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithfarmer,Jizzakhregion,December10,2014.
http://rus.ozodlik.org/content/article/27321803.htmlhttp://rus.ozodlik.org/content/article/27321803.htmlhttp://rus.ozodlik.org/content/article/27305585.htmlhttp://rus.ozodlik.org/content/article/27305585.htmlhttp://rus.ozodlik.org/content/article/27321803.html
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
19/69
19
healthcareandotherpublicinstitutions,mahallacommitteemembers,andotherswererequired
toattend.Themeetingsoftenoccurredlateintheeveningandlastedforhours.Afarmerfrom
Kashkadaryasaid,“DuringtheharvestIspenteverynightatthecottonheadquarters.Thehokim
convenesmeetingsuntilmidnight.Hetellsus‘you’dbetterfindcottonfromsomewhere,evenfrom
underthedirt,andfulfillthequota.’Nexttohimsittheprosecutorandpoliceofficers.” 30
Althoughtheostensiblepurposeofthemeetingsistomonitorprogressondailyharvesting,theirmainobjectiveappearedtobetoinstillfearintothoseresponsibleforcarryingoutcottonpolicyand
humiliatethosewhodonotmeettheplan.Theofficialscalledonfarmers,directorsofinstitutions
andenterprisestoreporthowmanypeopletheysenttothefieldsandtheirprogressinmeeting
harvestingquotas.Thosewhodidnotmeettargetswereexcoriated,threatened,andsometimes
beaten.ThehokimoftheNizhnechirchikdistrictoftheTashkentregionbeatafarmeratacotton
meetingonSeptember9,causingthefarmertobehospitalizedfortwodaysforhisinjuries.31
AtacottonmeetingintheKhazaraspdistrictofKhorezm,thehokimorderedfullparticipationinthe
harvest,threateningtoshutdownorganizationsthatdidnotsendtheiremployees.Thehokimsaid:
Cotton! You have to go and pick cotton and fulfill the quota. Is it clear!? …[All] must go and
pick cotton. This policy applies to everyone! If even one person does not go out, it will be
bad for you! I’ll shut down your organizations! Everyone, without exception, whether from
the hokimiyat, tax officials, the bank or other organizations, all will be shut down! 32
30 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithfarmer,Kashkadaryaregion,November9,2014.
31 “Хоким Джахонгир Абдуразаков Нижнечирчикского района принуждает медиков и учителей собирать хлопок, а
также является взяточником и хулиганом. Узбекистан.[HokimJahongirAbdurazakovoftheNizhnechirchikdistrict
isforcingmedicalworkersandteacherstopickcotton,istakingbribes,andascoundrel.Uzbekistan.],HumanRightsAllianceofUzbekistanpressrelease,September12,2015.
32 TranscriptofaudiorecordingofUktamKurbanov,hokimoftheKhazaraspdistrictofKhorezmregion,cotton
meeting,September29,2015.
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
20/69
20
Forced Mobilization of Labor
in 2015
In2015thegovernmentforciblymobilizedmorethanamillionpeopleincludingstudents,public
sectoremployees,andemployeesofprivatebusinesstoharvestcotton.33Itsentteachersandmedicalworkerstothefieldsindroves,despitestatedpolicycommitmentsnottorecruitfromthehealthand
educationsectors.34
EstimatingthenumberofUzbekcitizensforcedtoworkinthecottonsectorishamperedbythelack
ofreliableeconomicdatafromUzbekistanandtheUzbekgovernment’sactiveinterferencewith
attemptstogatherdataonpracticesinthecottonsector.Yetselectfiguresareavailableandenable
theapproximationofthelabordemandforthecottonharvest.
Officialnewssourcescitedthecropyieldasover3.35milliontonsandtheharvestlastedfortwo
months.35Whilequotasvariedbyregionandtimingduringtheharvest,averagedailynormsacross
33 InternationaltreatiestowhichUzbekistanisaparty,absolutelyprohibitsforcedlabor,definedbyILOconvention
No.29as“allworkorservicewhichisexactedfromanypersonunderthemenaceofanypenaltyandforwhich
thesaidpersonhasnotofferedhimself[orherself]voluntarily.”ILOConventionNo.29concerningForcedor
CompulsoryLabor(ForcedLaborConvention),adoptedJune28,1930,39U.N.T.S.55,enteredintoforceMay1,1932.
Fora,overviewofUzbekandinternationalstandardsregulatingforcedchildlaborandforcedlabor,seeLegal
Standards,Appendix.
34 ILOThirdPartyMonitoringreport,PolicyCommitments,p.84.ForpastresearchonforcedlaborinUzbekistan,
seetheUzbek-GermanForumreportsonforcedlaborinplantingandweedingcotton,andontheannualcotton
harvests,availableat:http://uzbekgermanforum.org/category/ugf-reports/ .Thegovernmentusesforcedlabor
inothersectorsoftheeconomyinUzbekistanaswell.ManyrespondentstoldtheUzbek-GermanForumthat
theyareregularlyrequiredtodoforced,unpaidlaborsuchascleaningthestreets,plantingflowers,orguardingconstructionsites.TheUzbek-GermanForumhasalsofoundsystematicforcedlaborinsilkproductionin
Uzbekistansee:“SilkLoopforUzbekFarmers,”Uzbek-GermanForumforHumanRights,September12,2015,
availableat:http://uzbekgermanforum.org/report-silk-loop-for-uzbek-farmers/ .
35 “Хлопкоробы Узбекистана собрали в 2015 году более 3 миллионов 350 тысяч тонн хлопка[Cottonpickersin
Uzbekistanharvestedmorethan3.35milliontonsofcottonin2015],STV,October10,2015,availableat:
http://stv.uz/news/economic/3147-hlopkoroby-uzbekistana-sobrali-v-2015-godu-bolee-3-millionov-350-tysyach-
tonn-hlopka.html.
http://uzbekgermanforum.org/category/ugf-reports/http://uzbekgermanforum.org/report-silk-loop-for-uzbek-farmers/http://stv.uz/news/economic/3147-hlopkoroby-uzbekistana-sobrali-v-2015-godu-bolee-3-millionov-350-tysyach-tonn-hlopka.htmlhttp://stv.uz/news/economic/3147-hlopkoroby-uzbekistana-sobrali-v-2015-godu-bolee-3-millionov-350-tysyach-tonn-hlopka.htmlhttp://stv.uz/news/economic/3147-hlopkoroby-uzbekistana-sobrali-v-2015-godu-bolee-3-millionov-350-tysyach-tonn-hlopka.htmlhttp://stv.uz/news/economic/3147-hlopkoroby-uzbekistana-sobrali-v-2015-godu-bolee-3-millionov-350-tysyach-tonn-hlopka.htmlhttp://stv.uz/news/economic/3147-hlopkoroby-uzbekistana-sobrali-v-2015-godu-bolee-3-millionov-350-tysyach-tonn-hlopka.htmlhttp://uzbekgermanforum.org/report-silk-loop-for-uzbek-farmers/http://uzbekgermanforum.org/category/ugf-reports/
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
21/69
21
theharvestwereintherangeof25–
50kilogramsperperson.Thismeans
that67–134millionpersondayswere
requiredtoharvestthecrop.While
asmallamountwasmechanically
harvested,andsomewaspickedby
trulyvoluntarylabor,thevastmajorityofthedaysinthecottonfieldswereput
inbyforcedlaborersordaylaborers
peoplepaidoutoftheirownpockets
toavoiddoingtheworkthemselves.
Conservativelyestimatingtoaccount
fortheunknowns,thegovernment
forcedmorethanamillionpeopleto
pickcottonin2015.
Mandatory Participation in the Harvest
Akeyindicatorthatparticipationinthecottonharvestwasmandatoryandnotvoluntarywasthefact
thatpeoplehadtoensurethattheyorsomeoneelsepickedcottonintheirnames.Theywereforced
togotothefieldsbytheirinstitutions–schools,universities,hospitals,ormahallas–sothatthe
institutionscouldreporttohigherauthoritiesthattheyhadfulfilledtheirmobilizationrequirements.
School,college,anduniversityadministrations,publichealthofficials,mahallacommittee
chairpersons,andotherheadsofpublicsectorinstitutionswereresponsiblenotforrecruitment
ofanyworkersorevenprovidingacertainnumberofworkers,butforensuringthemandatory
participationoftheirstudents,employees,orresidents.Evenwheresomeonehiredareplacement
workertopick,thereplacementworkerpicked–andreceivedanypayment–inthenameofthe
individualwhohiredhimorher.Intheexperienceofsome,administrators’mobilizationordersweredisconnectedfromtheproductiontarget.AteacherfromJizzakhsaid,“themostimportantthingwas
thatwesent15peopleeveryday.Themostimportantthingwashowmanyteacherswesent,nothow
muchwepicked.36
Numerousintervieweestoldusthatthekeywastoensurethatsomeonereporttothefieldsintheir
name.Itdidnotmatteriftheywentthemselvesorsentarelativeintheirplaceorhiredareplacement
worker,aslongasthecottonwaspickedintheirname.ForexampleateacherfromtheAndijan
regiontoldus:
For the school administration, it’s enough that you went to the fields. There the farmer
or his deputy responsible for organization watches what you do. If you don’t pick much
you won’t get paid for the work. For the school it’s enough that you go to the fields, it isn’t
important that someone goes in your place as long as your name is in the list of those who
have gone to the harvest. 37
Itisunclearwhyitwouldbenecessaryforthesepublicofficialstoshowparticipationofparticular
individualsforatrulyvoluntaryactivity,underscoringthemandatorynatureofmobilization.Indeed,
theILOobservedthatastudenthadaletterfromhisuniversityofficialsreleasinghimfromcotton
workandnotedthatsuchareleasewouldnotbenecessaryforavoluntaryactivity.38
36 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithaschoolteacher,Jizzakhregion,November8,2015.37 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithasecondaryschoolteacher,Andijanregion,November8,2015.Uzbek-German
Foruminterviewwithasecondaryschoolteacher,Andijanregion,November8,2015.
38 ILOThirdPartyMonitoringReport,7(45),p.14.
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
22/69
22
Eveninsomecasesofworkerswillingtoworkbutwho
wantedtoseekthehighestpayavailable,theywerestill
forciblyrecruitedtoworkfortheirmahallas,colleges,
orotherinstitutionswhowerecommandedtoprovide
acertainnumberofworkers.Thiscoercioneveninthe
faceofthewillingnessofsomeworkersunderscores
thefactthatthecottonsystemisbuiltaroundforcedlaborandlocalofficialsexperienceintensepressureto
delivertargetnumbersofworkers.Onewomendescribed
attemptingtoevadeforcedmobilizationbyhermahalla,
whichwasobligatedtomobilizealaborquotafora
particularfarmwhereshewouldhaveonlyreceivedthe
government-setprice,soshecouldinsteadseekworkasa
replacementworkerforhirewages.
We were prepared to pick cotton, but it is not
desirable to pick for the mahalla. We like [being
hired as replacement workers for people from
Tashkent]. If you work for them you’ll get 400
– 500 soum [approximately $.07 – .08 USD) for
every kilo. We wanted to pick for them [but] the
mahalla chairman came and told us to work for
the mahalla. Then a whole group of agitators
came to get us to pick…They propagandized to
us that cotton is our nation’s wealth. I almost
told them to their faces, ‘fine, then you should
pay better for it.’ We would pick cotton but only
for those who pay well. 39
Mobilization Orders
Ourmonitorscollectedavarietyofofficialdocumentsorderingtherecruitmentofworkersthat
shedlightontheforcedrecruitmentsystem,presentedinaninfographic“TheUzbekGovernment’s
ForcedLaborSystemChainofCommand”40.Thesedocumentscorroboratetestimonyfromour
intervieweesthattheywereorderedtoworkunderthreatofpenalty.Theseorderscannotbe
understoodasoptionalor,astheILOreported,astheauthorities“askingforvolunteers.”41Onecity
officialsaidthatthecottonharvestiskhashar[communalwork]thatis“voluntary-compulsory,”
underscoringthatwhilecottonpickingisvauntedascivicwork,itisactuallymandatory,saying:
“Only college students under age 18 stayed at college. The rest of them went to the fields.
It was on the order of the regional governor. Everybody knows it. This happens to us
compulsory-voluntarily. We call it ‘khashar.’ 40% of all employees went to the fields by the
order of the hokim. 42
39 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewmahallaresident,Jizzakhregion,November12,2015.
40 Infographic:TheUzbekGovernment’sForcedLaborSystemChainofCommand,availableat:
http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/.Allthedocumentscanbedownloadedat:http://
harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.
41 Initssectiononhealthcare,theILOreportstates,“Monitorsweretoldby2[hospitalorclinic]Directorsthattheyhadbeenaskedtoprovidestaff(bythemahallaandtheFarmers’Council/farmer)sotheyhadaskedstaffto
volunteerfortheharvest,”ILOTPMreport,7(51),p.14.
42 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithcityofficial,Tashkentregion,September2015.
InscriptiononthePoster:“Onthe29thof
October,thestudentsofforeignlanguage
facultyareatthecottonharvest.”
http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
23/69
23
Localofficialsresponsibleforrecruitmentoflaborissued
laborquotastobusinessesandpublicsectorinstitutions
suchasschools,medicalfacilities,andgovernment
offices.Inallregionswemonitoredin2015,peoplefrom
differentsectorsconsistentlyreportedthatupto40%
employees,andinafewcasesmore,weresenttothe
fieldsforshiftsof15–40days.Theremainingemployeesworkedovertimeorassumedadditionalresponsibilities
tocoverfortheircolleaguesinthefieldsfornoadditional
compensationandoftenperformeddailycottonwork
afternormalworkinghoursoronweekends.Amahalla
committeechairpersonintheJizzakhregionexplained
We [the mahalla committee] were supposed
to organize the entire mahalla and mobilize a
minimum of 100 people to pick cotton in the
name of the mahalla. Forced or mandatory,
no matter how you formulate this word, the
meaning is the same: to get people to go to the
fields and harvest cotton. No one wants to go
of their own will to harvest cotton for miserly
wages. 43
ThehokimofAngren,acityintheTashkentregionorderedeveryenterpriseandinstitutionin
Angrentoprovideatleast40%ofitsworkforcetothecottonharvest.44AtanOctober5cotton
meeting,thehokimoftheJizzakhregionannouncedageneralkhasharinresponsetoworsening
weather.Heorderedeveryorganizationintheregiontocloseandmobilizepeopletothefields.A
localfarmerreportedthatallcollegesfromcottonproducingregionsclosed,andallsecond-yearstudentsandsomefirst-yearstudentsweresenttothefields.45
Acottonheadquartersmonitoringdocumentweobtaineddetailstheassignmentoflaborquotas
tovariousinstitutionsinthedistrictandtracksdailytalliesofworkersandcottonpicked. 46
Thedocumentappearstobeastandardreportingformforuseinanyregion.Itlistsallfarms
inthedistrictand,undereach,theorganizationsrequiredtoprovidelabortothefarms.These
organizationsincludeschools,clinics,colleges,privatebusinesses,thepostoffice,andlocalbazaar.
Thedocumentspecifiesthenumberofworkerseachorganizationmustprovide.Italsocontains
twocolumnsforeachdayofthecottonharvest,thefirstnotinghowmanyworkerseachinstitution
provided,andthesecondhowmuchcottontheypicked.
Teachersconfirmedthattheschoolsreceivedgovernmentordersforthemandtheirstudentsto
participateintheharvest.AcollegeinstructorfromSyrdaryasaid,
It’s a long chain [of command]. Many are responsible. Really, a lot of people come from
the hokimiat, prosecutor’s office, administration, to inspect the numbers of students and
43 Interviewwithmahallacommitteechairperson,Jizzakhregion,November15,2015.
44 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithdirectorofAngrenLaborExchange,agovernmententityunderthedirection
ofthehokimiyat(cityadministration)ofAngren,September2015.
45 Reportfromafarmer[namewithheld]presentatthecottonmeeting,Jizzakhregion,October5,2015.ThecottonproducingdistrictsofJizzakhare:Jizzakh,Pakhtakor,Dustlik,Mirzachul,Arnasai,Zafarabad,Zarbdar,andZaamin.
46 AcopyofthedocumentisonfilewiththeUzbek-GermanForumforHumanRights.Publishingitortheidentifying
thedistrictcouldidentifythesource,puttingthesourceatriskofretaliation.
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
24/69
24
teachers in the fields. The director of the college is in control every day and gives us the
orders. We go the fields or don’t go according to his orders. He tells us and we do it.” 47
AteacherintheAndijanregionsaid,“Ofcourse[theorder]comesfromabove.Leadersfromthe
entirerepublicparticipateinthecottonmeetings.There,theprimeministergivestheorders.
Theregionalanddistricthokimsgiveorderstoschooldirectors.WegetlistsinAugusttomake
preparations,andthedirectorsgivetheorderstoschoolteachers[topickcotton].48
Throughan“UrgentMessage,”thehokimoftheUchtepadistrictofTashkentorderedprivate
companymanagerstosendtheiremployeestopickcotton:
White gold is a gift for the people of Uzbekistan!
On the basis of an order from a Meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dated August 28, 2015,
and to take advantage of favorable weather conditions to harvest the cotton crop without
loss, all organizations, enterprises and business entities of the Uchtepa district (Tashkent
city), regardless of the form of management, must participate in the cotton harvest.
Based on the above, please select _______ employees for the cotton harvest. Submit a
list of these employees (with copies of passports) according to the attached form to the
headquarters of the Uchtepa district hokimiyat (5th floor), by _______ hour __(date)_______
2015.
District Khokim signature A. Dosmukhamedov 49
Ourmonitorsalsoobtainedcopiesofordersfromprivatecompaniesdirectingtheiremployeesto
pickcotton.Forexample,thegeneraldirectorofUzmetkombinat,ametallurgicalfactoryinBekabad,
47 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithcollegeinstructor,Syrdaryaregion,November3,2015.
48 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithsecondaryschoolteacher,Andijanregion,November8,2015.
49 Acopyoftheorderisavailableat:http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.
http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
25/69
25
intheTashkentregion,issuedawrittenorderfor3500employeestopickcotton,morethan30%of
itsemployees.Thedirectornamedthemanagersresponsibleforfulfillingtherecruitmentorder
andprovidedatableindicatingthenumberofworkerseachdepartmentmustprovide.50Similarly,
thedirectoroftheAngrenbranchofthejointstockcompanyO’zbekko’mir,orderedthecompany’s
workerstopickcottonintheBukaregionfromSeptember9totheendoftheseason,inadirective
signedonSeptember7.51Point3ofthedirectivethreatensworkerswithdismissalforrefusaltopick
cottonorfailuretomeetthequota.
Failure to pick cotton or to fulfill the quota, and disciplinary violations (drinking alcoholic
beverages, playing games of chance, unauthorized absences, or violations of the sanitary-
hygiene rules) by workers, failure to carry out the orders of, or insubordination to, brigade
leaders are considered grounds for cancelling the labor contract at the employer’s
initiative [dismissal], in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan.52
Students
Studentsofcollegesanduniversitiescompriseoneof
themostnumerousandvulnerablegroupssubjected
toforcedlabor.53InUzbekistan,thereareatleast1,600
colleges,universities,andeducationalinstitutionswith
1.3millionstudentsaged18andolder.Testimonyfrom
students,teachers,parents,andfarmersinallregions
wemonitoredtakentogetherwithobservationsbyour
monitors,documentaryevidence,andmediareports
indicatesthatin2015thegovernmentforciblymobilized
students18andolder–third-yearcollegestudentsand
universitystudents–tothefieldsenmasseforshiftsof
25–40daysandthatthismobilizationwasforcedunderthreatofpenalty.
Studentstoldustheyfearedproblemswiththeirstudiesif
theyrefusedtopick.Someweredirectlythreatenedwith
expulsioniftheyrefusedtopickcotton.Morecommonly,
however,studentstoldustheyfearedtheywouldreceive
poorgrades,havedisciplinarytroubles,andexperience
difficultyenteringuniversityorgettingjobs.Forexample,
acollegeteacherfromtheSyrdaryaregiondescribed
threateningstudentstoensuretheirparticipationin
theharvest,“[Wewarn]studentsthatiftheydon’tpick
cottontheywillnotreceivegoodgrades.Wesaythings
tocoercethemandensuretheygotothefields;wewarn
parentsthattheirchildrenwillgetexpelled[ifthey
don’tpickcotton.”54AstudentfromKashkadaryasaidif
studentsrefusetopickcotton“[teachers]telluswewon’t
50 Acopyoftheorderisavailableat:http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.
51 BukaisthesiteofaWorldBank-fundedproject.
52 DirectiveNo.760“ToSendEmployeesoftheRazrezAngrenBranchtothe2015CottonHarvest,”N.S.Usmanov,
September7,2015.Acopyofthedirectiveisavailableat:http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.
org/?page=evidence.53 InUzbekistancollegeistheequivalentofhighschool;first-yearstudentsareusually16yearsold;second-yearsare
usually17;andthird-yearsareusually18.
54 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithcollegeinstructor,Syrdaryaregion,November11,2015.
http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
26/69
26
allowyoutocometoclass,we’llkickyououtofcollege…theywon’tgivegrades,saying‘youweren’tat
theharvest,andsoyouhavetopayalotofmoneyfornewspaperandmagazinesubscriptions.’They
begintopressureyoueverywhichway.Theyhumiliatesomestudentsinfrontofthewholecollege,
swearingatanddegradingthemindifferentways.”55
In2015weobservedintensificationofeffortstomakeparticipationinthecottonharvestappear
voluntary,orasapracticalcomponentofstudents’studiesortocoveruptheirparticipationintheharvestbyfalsifyingattendancerecordsandcurriculumjournals.
Wecollectedcopiesofstatementssignedbystudentsatsixeducationalinstitutions,allhandwritten
butsubstantiallysimilar,inwhichstudentswrotethattheyagreetoparticipateinthecottonharvest
“voluntarily”orbesubjectedtodisciplinaryaction,includingexpulsion.Thestatementsrefer
variouslytoaresolutionormeetingoftheCabinetofMinistersorderingmobilizationofworkersto
theharvest.Thesestatementscamefromstudentsatinstitutionsindifferentpartsofthecountry,
suggestingthattheywerenotthespontaneousinventionofindividualofficials,butpartofalarger
policytomakecottonpickingappearvoluntary.Forexample,astatementsignedbyastudentatthe
SamarkandStateInstituteforArchitectureandConstructionreads:
I, [name withheld] have familiarized myself with the disciplinary rules and internal
regulations of the Samarkand State Institute for Architecture and Construction. I have
personally received a warning from the administration of the institute that I will be
expelled if I, without a reason, cannot participate in the cotton harvest organized on the
basis of decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Hokimiat of
Samarkand Region, orders of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education
of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Rector of the Institute. 56
ASeptember9examplefromtheTashkentUniversityof
InformationTechnologyreads:
To the Rector of the Tashkent University of
Information Technologies, Ministry of Higher
and Secondary Special Education of the
Republic of Uzbekistan, Muydinov H.A.
I [name withheld], a student in the
telecommunications department of Tashkent
University of Information Technology, will be
actively involved of my own will in the harvest of
cotton, the wealth of the state, in 2015. I will take
an active part in cotton harvest on my own will.
Statement written and signed by myself.57
OneletterwrittenbyastudentattheTashkentInstituteforIrrigationandMeliorationrefersto
cottonpickingasan“internship,”andnotesthat“Ihavebeenwarnedaboutparticipationinpractical
workinthecottonharvestof2015toexecutetheprotocol‘OnAssemblyonthepreparationtocotton
harvestinSyrdaryaregionin2015,’oftheCabinetofMinistersof15,August2015.”58
55 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithcollegestudent,Kashkadaryaregion,November5,2015.56 SeeDocumentaryEvidence,availableat:http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.
57 Acopyoftheletterisavailableat:http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.
58 Acopyoftheletterisavailableat:http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence.
http://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidencehttp://harvestreport2015.uzbekgermanforum.org/?page=evidence
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
27/69
27
AcollegeinstructorinKarakalpakstanconfirmed
We get statements from parents saying ‘I am not opposed to my child taking part in the
work of the college.’ We, a teacher and a mahalla committee member, visit parents whose
children refuse to go to the fields. We acquaint them with the recent orders and directives
of the government regarding students’ education and their participation in the work and
activities of the college. Parents are required to send their son or daughter to the harvest. 59
Whenaskedifacollegethatsentfirst-,second-,andthird-yearstudentstopickcottonaskedparents’
permission,ateacherresponded,
No, why would we ask such a question? Don’t you know our rules? The cotton harvest is
the obligation of every citizen. We took a statement from the parents of first- and second-
year students that from their side they will not allow their first- and second-year children
to pick cotton. If they do, they accept full responsibility and are even prepared to accept
the appropriate punishment. I even signed that kind of note for my son, who is a first-year
student.60
AfarmerinJizzakhtoldusoftheconundrumfacedbyeducationalinstitutionsorderedatonceto
sendtheirstudentstothefieldswhileatthesametimeappearingtofunctionincaseofinspection.
Today in [district withheld] the heads of the college received notification that the ILO
inspection teams are coming to inspect them. They are terrified… They said ‘if the hokim
and prosecutor allow us, we would be happy to take the first- and second-year students out
of the fields and return them to class, but they demand that we provide a certain number of
third-years. But 70% of the third-years ran away. Of 200 third-years we can only get 40. So
we send first- and second-years [to make up the difference]…if we don’t send the required
amount we’ll get in trouble with the hokim and prosecutor. But if the first- and second-yearsaren’t in class when the ILO comes, we’ll also get in trouble with the hokim and prosecutor. 61
Education and Medical Workers
Educationandhealthsectorworkerswereanothergroup
forcedenmassetoworkinthecottonfieldsin2015.
Notwithstandingthegovernment’sstatedcommitments
nottorecruitteachersandhealthcareworkers,our
researchshowsnodiscernibledifferenceintheforced
mobilizationoftheseworkersin2015fromprevious
years,whentheywerealsoforciblyrecruitedinlarge
numbers.62Officialssentteachersandmedicalworkersto
pickcottonforrotatingshiftsof15–25daysorforsingle
extendedshiftsofupto40daysduringthe2015harvest.
Thosewhohadcompletedtheirshiftsordidnotpick
cottonwereforciblymobilizedtoworkonweekendsand
59 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithcollegeinstructor,Karakalpakstan,November3,2015.
60 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithcollegeteacher,Jizzakhregion,November5,2015.
61 ReportfromafarmerintheJizzakhregiontotheUzbek-GermanForum.
62 Statisticsfrom2013indicatecloseto1millionmedicalandsocialservicesprovidersinUzbekistanandmorethan
1.6millionemployeesinthefieldsofeducation,culture,arts,andsciences.45%ofUzbekistan’spopulationofmorethan30millionareunderage24,indicatingahighnumberofteachersandinstructors.See“ Альманах Узбекистан
2013[UzbekistanAlmanac2013],”CenterforEconomicResearch,availableat:http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/
DAM/hlm/prgm/cph/experts/uzbekistan/01_general_info/Almanach_Uzbekistana_2013_RUS.pdf .
AnnouncementataclinicinJizzakRegion:
“Everyonewenttothecottonharvest”.
http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/hlm/prgm/cph/experts/uzbekistan/01_general_info/Almanach_Uzbekistana_2013_RUS.pdfhttp://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/hlm/prgm/cph/experts/uzbekistan/01_general_info/Almanach_Uzbekistana_2013_RUS.pdfhttp://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/hlm/prgm/cph/experts/uzbekistan/01_general_info/Almanach_Uzbekistana_2013_RUS.pdfhttp://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/hlm/prgm/cph/experts/uzbekistan/01_general_info/Almanach_Uzbekistana_2013_RUS.pdfhttp://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/hlm/prgm/cph/experts/uzbekistan/01_general_info/Almanach_Uzbekistana_2013_RUS.pdf
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
28/69
28
afternormalworkinghours.Asinothersectors,approximately40%ofemployeesfromeducational
andmedicalinstitutionsweremobilizedatatime,insomecasesmore.
AccordingtotheILO’sobservers“schoolsandhospitalsfunctionednormally,”althoughthereport
notedthatsomeattendancerecordswereapparentlyaltered.Onthecontrary,wefoundthatthe
forcedmobilizationtothecottonharvestunderminedtheprovisionofbasicservices.Schools,
hospitals,andclinicsstruggledtooperatewhilesignificantportionsoftheirworkforcewereinthefields.
Employeesofthehealthandeducationsectorsareamongthelowestpaidprofessionalsin
Uzbekistan,buttendtoenjoyrelativelystableemployment.Ininterviewafterinterview,employees
ofthesesectorstoldusthattheypickedcottonforthesolereasonthattheyfearedlosingtheirjobs
aboveall.AnursefromSyrdaryatoldus:
We have no understanding of the ability to refuse to pick cotton. People who work in public
institutions are those who are prepared to tolerate [forced work]. Of course no one wants to
lose his job. The chief doctor tells us ‘I don’t send you to the fields of my own accord. I am
also only carrying out orders.’ You need to understand him. He says he is required to fire
any employee who refuses to work. There are a lot of unemployed people. Especially those
who have completed medical training, with diplomas in hand, looking for jobs. He warned
us, if any of us don’t like to pick cotton, he’ll hire one of them.63
AcollegeinstructorfromJizzakhsaid,“Thecollegehasinstitutedthateveryteachermustdohis
time[pickingcotton].Becauseifonedoesn’tgo,theburdenfallstoanother.Thereforeeveninvalid
andelderlyteachersdotheirtime.Theyeithersendoneoftheirchildrentopickcottonorhire
someone…Ofcourseitwouldbebetterifwecouldjustdoourjobs.Butwedemandlittle.Nooneasks
us.Theyonlyorderus.Anditisimpossibletorefuse.”64
Asinpreviousyears,in2015teachersandmedicalworkerstoldusthattheymustpaysignificant
bribestosecureemployment.65Thisfactraisesthecosttoworkerswhomayattempttorefusetopick
cotton–notonlydotheyrisktheirjobs,theyfacefinancialcostsinsecuringnewemployment.Itwas
amajorfactorcitedbytheeducationandhealthcareemployeesweinterviewedforwhytheyfeltthey
couldnotrefusetopickcotton.
Thenotionthattheseworkersembracetheharvestasan“opportunity”isborneoutneitherbylogic
norourresearch,sincenearlyeveryoneweinterviewedsaidthattheydidnotearnmuchpicking
cotton,whilepickingcottonimposedcostsonfamilies,causedphysicalstress,andprofessional
disruption.Allteachers,doctors,andotherprofessionalsweinterviewedsaidtheywouldratherdo
theirownjobsthanpickcotton.Noneofthedoctorsorteachersweinterviewedsaidthattheywere
willingtopickcottonorviewedtheharvestasameanstosupplementtheirincomes.Instead,they
63 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithnurse,Syrdaryaregion,November10,2015.
64 Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithacollegeteacherwhowasforcedtopickcotton,Jizzakhregion,November5,
2015.
65 Forexample,wedocumentedthecaseofanursewhopaid$200togetajobinahospitalthatpaidtheequivalentof$40permonth,andthecaseofapediatricianwithnineyears’trainingwhoinunabletofindemploymentbecause
shedoesnothave$2000requiredtopayabribe.Uzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithnurse,Tashkent,September
2015;andUzbek-GermanForuminterviewwithpediatrician,Tashkent,September2015.
-
8/18/2019 Walk Free Cotton Report
29/69
29
toldusthattheyincurreddirectcosts,forfoodandnecessitiesorreplacementworkers,aswellas
additionalprofessionalburdens.Regardingthemobilizationofmedicalpersonnel,asourcetoldus:
No one has any motivation to pick cotton of their own will because it pays very little. You
bend over all day to pick 50 kilos of cotton and get paid only 8,000 soum (approximately
$1.50 USD). The government has promised 230 soum per kilo. When the money to pay the
workers gets to the bank, the tax collectors withhold 8% for income tax, in total 30 soumper kilo, leaving 200 soum. And here the cotton collection headquarters accepts physical
kilograms [the amount actually picked] but pays for conditional kilograms [clean cotton
with no moisture or debris] and so for first harvest cotton it withholds about 10%. And
then there are shortages, undercounting, mistakes by the farmer, falsification of the
scales at the cotton headquarters and in the end the picker receives only 8,000 soum for
50 kilograms picked. The only ones who have desire [to pick] are those who are hired by
people from Tashkent [as replacement workers]. People from Tashkent pay 10,000 – 25,000
(approximately $1.67 – 4.17 USD) daily in cash to everyone they hire in addition to what they
are paid for the cotton. A nurse would never go pick cotton of her own accord. She only goes
because she is afraid to lose her job. To get hired as a nurse requires a bribe, minimum
$100 or the equivalent of a month’s wages.66
AmedicalworkerfromBukharasaid,“Myfamilyreceivednoprofitfromcotton.Myfamilyonly
sufferedlosses.”67AmedicalworkerinSyrdaryareportedasimilarexperience:
I was at the harvest around 40 days. I earned 600,000 soum [approximately $100 USD]. But
let’s say 30% went for food, maybe even more… I spent 20% on clothes [for harvesting]. Half
of my income went to expenses for cotton. And the remaining 300,000 soum [approximately
$50 USD] I spent on supplies for my children. I worked for 40 days with no rest and half the
income went to expenses! I didn’t buy anything for myself, I spent the 40-day profit on my
children in one day. It’s not much money.68
In2015wereceivedconsistentreportsfromallregionsmonitoredthat,likewithstudents,some
teachersandmedicalworkerswererequiredtosignstatementsthattheirparticipationintheharvest
wasvoluntary.Tellingly,oftenthestatementsincludedanoteindicatingthatthepersonwouldbe
willingtoacceptdisciplinaryactionorpunishmentiftheyoptednottopi