In Uzbekistan, for the first time, the right of workers to strike is being guaranteed by law. On September 9, at the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, a proposal from the Senate was discussed, according to which the national labor legislation will be brought closer to international standards, reported kursiv.media.
The main purpose of the draft law is to fully comply with the requirements of the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 87 “On Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize” and Convention No. 98 “On the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining.” At the same time, this step also applies in practice the norms of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Why is the right to strike important?
The right to strike is not an individual right, but one granted to a collective. Its essence lies in the fact that if disagreements arise between the employer and employees within an organization or enterprise, workers may temporarily stop the work process to express their demands.
This right serves to strengthen in practice the principles of democratic governance, equality, and social justice. Strike action has long been widely used in global practice as one of the most effective means of resolving labor disputes.
Main directions of the draft law
The draft consists of 9 articles, through which amendments are introduced into 2 laws and 4 codes. Notably, for the first time, the Labour Code introduces an exact definition of a strike.
In addition, the draft provides for:
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procedures for initiating a strike;
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guarantees granted to employees during a strike;
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mechanisms for postponement, temporary suspension, and resumption of a strike;
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clear definition of restrictions related to strikes.
Thus, the gaps in national legislation will be closed, and workers’ rights will be fully aligned with international standards.
Constitution and legislative initiative
According to Article 98 of the new edition of the Constitution, more than one hundred thousand citizens with voting rights, the Senate, the Ombudsman, and the Central Election Commission have the right of legislative initiative. Based on these norms, first the Ombudsman, and then the Senate, introduced legislative proposals.
This process demonstrates to what extent democratic reforms are actually functioning in the country.
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