An urgent government meeting devoted to cotton campaign chaired by the Uzbek PM Abdulla Aripov was convened yesterday late night, during which the PM demanded that the protocol decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of August 8 be enforced, a source in the government said.
The decision stated: "It is strictly forbidden to engage persons aged under 18, as well as workers of educational and health organizations for forced labor in cotton fields in 2017".
Today early in the morning students, teachers and health care workers were requested to immediately leave cotton fields. Heads of provinces and state bodies were warned about liability for non-compliance with the decision.
Now, university students, as well as workers of educational and medical institutions engaged in cotton harvesting are returning from cotton fields back to work and studies.
Students were saying that before the cotton campaign started, they were even forced to sign an acknowledgement letter stating that they were willing to pick cotton voluntarily. Some reportedly received threats that they will be expelled from universities should they refuse to pick cotton.
The government meeting was held on the day of the return of the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev from UN General Assembly in New York. On September 19, speaking at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President, inter alia, said "In cooperation with the International Labor Organization, we have taken effective measures to eradicate the child and forced labor."
