ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, August 7. Turkmenistan has enacted a new decree banning individuals under the age of 18 from participating in cotton harvesting, Trend reports.
The decree of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection expands the list of prohibited jobs for minors to include "cotton picker" and "cotton grower," amending regulations set forth in 2018.
The updated decree has been officially registered with the Ministry of Justice. The Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection will oversee its implementation.
In a related development, Turkmenistan's government and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have earlier agreed on a "roadmap" for 2024–2025.
The roadmap outlines steps to eliminate forced labor, both adult and child, during cotton harvesting. It includes provisions for addressing complaints of coercion or extortion and establishes minimum wage standards for workers if manual harvesting is necessary.