LocationsStronger Labour Inspection to Help Protect Workers’ Rights in Uzbekistan
September 23, 2026
Tashkent, 23 September 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction of the Republic of Uzbekistan, has launched a specialized training programme to strengthen the capacity of State Labour Inspectors to protect workers’ rights and support the transition from informal to formal employment.
Informal employment remains a significant challenge in Uzbekistan, affecting around 5 million people in 2025. For workers, informality can mean limited access to pensions, sick leave, maternity benefits and other legal and social protections.
The programme focuses on strengthening professional, evidence-based labour inspection in line with international standards. Inspectors will develop practical skills in identifying informal employment, risk-based inspections, use of data and digital tools, investigative interviewing, conflict management and documentation of evidence.
“Labour inspection is one of the most direct ways to translate policy into protection that workers can actually feel. When workers enter the formal system, they gain access to social protection and the protection of the law. At the same time, effective inspection helps create a fairer environment for businesses that follow the rules,” said Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan.
The training comes as Uzbekistan strengthens the mandate of its labour inspection system through the new Labour Code and expanded powers of the State Labour Inspectorate. The programme aims to help inspectors exercise these responsibilities professionally, consistently and in accordance with international labour standards.
Two groups of State Labour Inspectors from all over Uzbekistan will participate in the programme on 23–25 September and 28–30 September 2026 in Tashkent, with sessions led by UNDP international expert on labour inspection Javier Barbero.
Through its partnership with the Ministry, UNDP will continue supporting the professionalization of the State Labour Inspectorate and stronger institutions that translate reforms into tangible improvements in people’s working lives.
The training and capacity-building activities under this partnership are supported within the framework of the UN joint program “Accelerating Decent Jobs and Social Protection for a Just Transition to Formality in Uzbekistan” funded by the Joint SDG Fund. We sincerely appreciate the contributions from the European Union and the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland in accelerating progress towards the SDGs.
