Uzbekistan equips inspectors to protect workers' rights
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In Uzbekistan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction began training state labor inspectors to address the country’s large informal employment sector.
Approximately 5 million people in Uzbekistan are expected to work informally in 2025, which limits their access to benefits like pensions and sick leave. The training program aims to improve inspectors’ skills in areas such as identifying informal work, conducting inspections, and collecting evidence.
UNDP Resident Representative Akiko Fujii stated that labor inspection directly protects workers by putting government policies into practice and creating fair conditions for businesses. Uzbekistan is currently updating its labor inspection system with a new Labor Code and expanding the State Labor Inspectorate’s role. The UNDP is providing international expertise, with Javier Barbero leading the sessions, to ensure inspectors can meet these expanded responsibilities and align with international labor standards.
Two groups of inspectors from across Uzbekistan are participating in training sessions held in Tashkent on September 23 to 25 and 28 to 30, 2026. The UNDP plans to continue working with the Ministry to improve the State Labor Inspectorate and implement labor reforms.
