The cotton industry is one of the biggest export earners for the government of Uzbekistan and thousands of workers are involved in the annual harvest. Unfortunately many of these workers are coerced to work for low wages, long hours and in unsafe working conditions. Recently a human rights defender documenting labour abuse, Elena Urlaeva, was again arrested because of her advocacy work. The formation of independent unions for cotton workers in Uzbekistan needs to be a key campaign goal.
The cotton industry is one of the biggest export earners for the government of Uzbekistan and thousands of workers are involved in the annual harvest. Unfortunately many of these workers are coerced to work for low wages, long hours and in unsafe working conditions. Recently a human rights defender documenting labour abuse, Elena Urlaeva, was again arrested because of her advocacy work. The formation of independent unions for cotton workers in Uzbekistan needs to be a key campaign goal.
