During its session on April 8, the Senate passed amendments establishing the legal framework for strikes and expanding protections for both employees and trade unions.
Senator Zumrad Bekatova presented the report, noting that current legislation lacked provisions regarding strikes. This regulatory gap, she explained, hindered Uzbekistan’s ability to perform its international obligations and impacted the overall protection of citizens' labor rights.
Specifically, a strike will be defined in the Labor Code as a temporary, voluntary, and collective total or partial cessation of work duties. It is recognized as a legitimate method for resolving collective labor disputes with an employer to protect workers' labor, socio-economic, and professional interests.
Furthermore, a designated list of organizations where strikes shall be entirely prohibited will be approved, and restrictions on participation will be implemented for certain categories of personnel.
To ensure compliance, the amendments introduce penalties for violating strike-related legislation, with corresponding norms integrated into the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Responsibility. Under the new rules, labor inspectors will file protocols for such cases, which will then be adjudicated by criminal courts.
Amendments are also being implemented to the Public Associations Law concerning trade unions. The membership threshold required for a trade union to be recognized as a public association is proposed to be significantly reduced—from 3,000 down to 500 members—while trade union inspectors will no longer hold administrative enforcement powers.
Senate Chair Tanzila Narbayeva emphasized the significance of the move, stating: "These amendments once adopted will be in full compliance with our international obligations. Most importantly, we are doing this not for the sake of the outside world or international organizations, but to ensure the rights of our workers and protect their interests. We consider this a very positive piece of legislation, one we have been working on for quite some time."
During the session, it was noted that the law specifically seeks to harmonize national statutes with the requirements of International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions No. 87, "Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise," and No. 98, "Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining."
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