EU-funded ILO project will support national efforts to strengthen labour standards and address child labour and forced labour with a focus on the cotton sector.
13 May 2026 – ASHGABAT (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the European Union (EU) and national stakeholders, launched the project “Promoting decent work and preventing child and forced labour in Turkmenistan”.
Running from 2026 to 2027 and funded by the EU, the ILO-implemented initiative aims at addressing child labour and forced labour while promoting decent work, particularly in the cotton sector in Turkmenistan.
It will support updates to the legal framework, ratification and implementation of international labour standards, and strengthening institutional capacity to prevent and address labour rights violations.
The project is aligned with key national and international frameworks, including the Concept for the Development of the Labour Market of Turkmenistan until 2030, the ILO-Government Roadmap of Cooperation, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2026-2030.
Opening the event, representatives of the Government, the EU and the ILO highlighted the importance of partnership in driving tangible progress.
“This project reflects Turkmenistan’s strong commitment to preventing child and forced labour, particularly in the cotton sector, and advancing decent work,” said Khalbibi Tachjanova, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population.
The intervention is part of the broader cooperation between the EU and Turkmenistan. “It advances labour and human rights while supporting sustainable and inclusive economic development,” said Beata Pęksa, Ambassador of the European Union to Turkmenistan.
The EU supports the universal concept of decent work as developed by the ILO, as reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and as confirmed by the 2022 Communication by the European Commission “On decent work worldwide for a global just transition and a sustainable recovery“[1].
The project combines national-level policy support with practical action at local level, aiming to deliver measurable improvements on the ground while strengthening long-term systems.
“The project is about ensuring that work in the cotton harvest is carried out voluntarily and under fair and safe conditions, and that systems are in place to ensure effective implementation of worker protection,” said Miranda Fajerman, ILO HQ Technical Specialist on Forced Labour.
By reinforcing institutions and raising awareness of workers, the initiative is expected to contribute to ensuring decent work practices, thus leading to a more sustainable economic development in Turkmenistan and its positioning as a responsible and competitive partner globally. ///nCa, 13 May 2026 (in cooperation with ILO Project Office in Turkmenistan)
Here are some photos from the event:
[1] Source – https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscomer/detail/en/ip_22_1187