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The Role of Children in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Harvest

Learn about the widespread child labor in Uzbekistan's cotton industry, the consequences children face, and how human rights organizations are advocating for change. Explore the perspectives of affected children and the push for retailers to declare products free of Uzbek cotton.

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The Role of Children in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Harvest

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  1. The Role of Children in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Harvest By Elliott Cannell & Steve Trent

  2. Denying that Child Labour occurs • “We do not use children’s labour” - Uzbek Embassy in London • “We buy our cotton from government agencies and don’t know what happens in the field” - an International Cotton Trader

  3. Child Labour in the Uzbek Cotton Harvest • “Our teacher told us to go and pick cotton. Everyone is picking cotton… I get 50 soums for one day” – Dilfusa, 10 years old, Namangan • “Everybody says cotton, cotton, cotton, but we need a future generation. Everyone is involved in picking cotton from 1st classes to old men and women who can hardly walk.” – Abdurakhimova, an Uzbek schoolteacher • “12 kgs a day.” “It’s better to go to school: you get education” – Isom, 12 years old, Ferghana

  4. Organisation of Child Labour • Mass mobilisation of children orchestrated by the Uzbek State • Accommodation in makeshift barracks

  5. How many Children? • UNICEF – 22.6% of 5-14 year olds (1.4 million children) • 700,000 schoolchildren in 1987 (45% mechanisation) • “It’s getting worse and worse. Before they sent children from the 9th to the 11th classes. But now they’re sending 3rd class children as well. Children as young as 9 years old have no lessons and are also involved in the cotton campaigns.” • 200,000 in Ferghana District (2001)

  6. Consequences of Forced Child Labour • Exhaustion • Intestinal and respiratory infections, meningitis, hepatitis • Death – 8 children in Samarkand over a 2 year period • Debt: actual wages < expenses

  7. Uzbek Human Rights Organisations • “I want to ask the representatives of developed countries not to buy cotton which is picked by the hands of small children” – Head of Ezgulic, Namangan (2004) • 18 NGOs signed petition: ‘Boycott Uzbek cotton – our great future suffering in the cotton fields’ (2004) • “I believe that the world community will force the Uzbek government to respond to these crimes forcing children to be slaves” – Ut Yuraklar (2004)

  8. EJF Campaign • Retailers: declare their products free of Uzbek cotton • Build on existing EU position re: child labour imports • Clothing label designating apparel as being ‘Child Labour Free’ • Create greater awareness of the issue

  9. Thank you

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