The International Labour Organization (ILO) conducted observations during Turkmenistan’s 2024 cotton harvest, focusing on recruitment practices, working conditions and the prevalence of child and forced labor. The findings highlight some improvements and ongoing issues across several key areas, which are summarized below.
Wage Improvements and Economic Challenges
- Increased Payment Rates: In 2024, 71% of cotton pickers earned more than 1 manat per kilogram, a significant increase from 12% in 2023. However, 29% of workers still received below the mandated rate, indicating the need for further progress.
- Living Wage Concerns: An ILO study suggests that a rate of 1.2 manats per kilogram would enable many workers to reach the minimum wage, but this remains insufficient for the lowest 25% of households. To ensure a minimum living standard, wages would need to be 1,512 manats per month or 1.3 manats per kilogram.
Labor Conditions and Worker Protections
- Lack of Formal Contracts: Approximately 78.4% of cotton pickers lacked written contracts, exposing them to unstable pay and potential exploitation.
- Protective Equipment: Only 40% of workers received basic protective equipment, leaving the majority of people without adequate protection. This has contributed to health issues such as joint pain (41%), dizziness (33%) and respiratory problems (10%).
- Provision of Essentials: While 91% of workers reported sufficient access to drinking water or tea, 9% faced shortages. Additionally, 38% stated that farmers did not provide adequate food, underscoring the need to address these gaps for worker well-being.
- Working Hours: Cotton pickers worked an average of 8.4 hours per day, with a quarter exceeding 9 hours, often in temperatures above 40°C. This raises concerns about heat stress and dehydration, highlighting the necessity for structured breaks during peak heat periods.
Child Labor and Forced Mobilization
- Child Labor Presence: Despite formal prohibitions, evidence confirmed the involvement of children in cotton picking during the 2024 season:
- 17% of farmers reported child participation on their farms.
- 14% of staff and 11% of pickers indicated working alongside children.
- ILO observers directly observed children picking cotton in 23% of farms across all regions.
- Root causes for child labour may include poverty, social norms, inadequate income for pickers, piece-rate wages, lack of social protection and contracts and weak enforcement necessitating targeted interventions and further research to develop effective policy solutions.
- Civil Servant Involvement: Report indicated that civil servants were compelled to participate in cotton picking:
- 20% of farmers noted public employees working on their farms
- 12% of surveyed public employees participated in the harvest
- 16% of institutional heads confirmed staff involvement
- Common groups included technical staff from schools and medical centers (12%), teachers (10.3%), kindergarten teachers (8%), nurses (7%) and doctors (7%).
Coercion and Consequences
- Repercussions for Non-Participation: Coercion was evident, with 12% of cotton pickers in 2024 reporting negative consequences for refusing participation. Among those with other jobs:
- 13% risked losing their primary employment.
- 12% faced potential loss of salary or benefits.
- For public sector workers, 31% faced repercussions, including
- paying a fee (13%)
- losing respect (9%)
- salary (8%)
- job (8%)
- social benefits (7%)
- other consequences (5%)
- threats of violence (3%).
- Fees to Avoid Participation: Among pickers, 14% reported either picking cotton to substitute for someone else or to avoid paying a fee. Additionally, 13% of staff who picked cotton indicated they would have had to pay a fee if they had chosen not to participate.
Challenges in Data Collection
- Methodological and Data Limitations: The observance was not a probability-based study and is not designed to yield statistically representative estimates at the national level. Data collection involved sensitive topics, and some individuals may have been hesitant to share information despite confidentiality protocols. Observers reported signs of interference in 23% of their visits, with some farms and institutions declining consent or obstructing the survey process.
These findings underscore the need for continued efforts to improve labor conditions, enforce legal protections, and address systemic issues contributing to forced and child labor in Turkmenistan’s cotton industry.
Direct Quotes:
- Multiple sources confirm civil servants’ involvement in cotton picking: 20% of farmers reported public employees working on their farms, 12% of surveyed public employees participated, and 16% of institutional heads confirmed staff involvement.
- The practice of paying a fee to avoid picking cotton was detected, with both individual workers and their colleagues reporting financial penalties for opting out.
- Despite wage improvements, 78.4% of cotton pickers still lack written contracts, leaving them vulnerable to poor working conditions, unstable pay, and potential exploitation.
- Only 40% of workers receive basic PPE, leaving 60% without adequate protection. This lack of safety gear contributes to health risks, with 8% of workers reporting negative health effects such as joint pain (41%), dizziness (33%), and respiratory issues (10%).
- Cotton pickers work an average of 8.4 hours per day, but a quarter exceed 9 hours, often in high temperatures above 40°C. This increases risks of heat stress and dehydration. Mandating structured breaks during peak heat hours and improving compliance monitoring are essential for safeguarding workers’ health.
- Evidence from multiple sources – including farmers, cotton pickers, and public sector workers – confirmed the presence of children picking cotton during the 2024 season. ILO observers directly observed children picking cotton in several regions, indicating that this is not an isolated issue and requires targeted interventions. The root causes need to be further studied, as factors such as poverty, social norms, piece-rate wages, and lack of contracts may contribute to children’s involvement.
- Coercion is a key indicator of forced mobilization, with 12% of surveyed cotton pickers in 2024 reporting negative consequences for non-participation. Among those with other jobs, 13% risked losing their main job, and 12% could have lost salary or benefits. For public sector workers, 31% faced potential repercussions, including paying a fee (13%), losing respect (9%), salary (8%), their job (8%), social benefits (7%), other consequences (5%), and threats of violence (3%).
