“First EU-Central Asia Summit: EU Should Center Workers In Its Engagement With Uzbekistan And Turkmenistan”

…The Cotton Campaign calls on the EU to emphasise in its engagement with the governments of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan that achieving sustainable cotton and textile industries first and foremost requires protection and respect for fundamental labor rights. The call comes as the EU holds talks with officials from Central Asian countries to deepen cooperation at the first EU-Central Asia Summit on April 3-4, 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In advance of the Summit, the Cotton Campaign sent a letter to high level EU officials urging them to center workers’ rights, especially freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, in their engagement with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan during these meetings and beyond. In Uzbekistan, ensuring that workers can exercise their rights is essential to eliminate ongoing forced labor risks and meet international labor standards necessary to attract responsible sourcing by global brands and retailers. In Turkmenistan, where the government has taken some preliminary steps towards addressing the use of systemic state-imposed forced labor in the cotton harvest, an emphasis on labor rights and worker empowerment is vital to ensuring meaningful reforms that address the root causes of forced labor…