Uzbekistan enforces new strike law securing worker jobs
A comprehensive law regulating labour strikes has officially come into force across Uzbekistan today.
The legislation takes effect exactly three months after its publication by the Ministry of Justice in June. The legal framework establishes clear rules for organising industrial action when negotiations between staff and employers break down.
Under the new regulations, employees must decide voluntarily whether to join or refuse a walkout. The law explicitly bans anyone from pressuring staff into participating.
Trade union committees are required to provide written notice to employers at least a month before any planned work stoppage. Employers must then inform the relevant state authorities about the impending dispute.
Protection of workers’ rights
The legislation introduces robust protections for those taking part in lawful strikes. Participants are guaranteed to retain their current jobs and professional positions. Furthermore, companies cannot use strike participation as grounds for disciplinary action.
Despite these employment guarantees, companies maintain the right to withhold wages from participating employees for the duration of the strike.
A designated trade union representative will oversee and coordinate any organised protest. The legislation also grants courts the power to postpone a strike or suspend it for up to 30 days if the action threatens public safety, disrupts social order or risks causing environmental damage.
