Uzbekistan commits to International Convention safeguarding workers' family rights

Senators have approved the ratification by Uzbekistan of the ILO Convention No. 156, as reported by the press service of the upper house of Oliy Majlis.

The Convention, signed in Geneva in 1981, aims to ensure equal opportunities and equitable treatment for working men and women. The document enshrines protection from discrimination in the balancing of professional and family responsibilities.

Having family responsibilities cannot be grounds for the termination of employment. This applies to both dependents, such as children, and other relatives who require care.

Participants of the Convention are required to implement measures that will enable workers with family responsibilities to enter or continue in employment. After an absence due to family responsibilities, employees should have the right to return to their jobs.

This includes ensuring the right of individuals with family responsibilities to freely choose their work, as well as consideration of their needs in terms of employment conditions and social security. Specifically, countries should support institutions for childcare and family assistance.

The Convention applies to all sectors of economic activity and to all categories of workers. Employer and worker organizations may participate in the development and implementation of measures aimed at fulfilling the conditions of the Convention.

To date, the Convention has been ratified by 45 states including Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, France, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Japan, and South Korea.

On March 12, Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law ratifying the ILO Convention concerning the protection of wages. Uzbekistan became the 100th state to join the document.