Labour Without Rights: The Real Situation of Workers in Turkmenistan

The Human Rights Platform of the Civic Movement DAYANCH Turkmenistan expresses serious concern about the real situation of workers in Turkmenistan in light of official statements regarding expanded cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO). Despite repeated claims about “reforms” and the “improvement of labour legislation,” the actual situation regarding labour rights in the country remains extremely difficult. In Turkmenistan, various forms of forced labour continue to exist, particularly within state institutions and the public sector. Employees are frequently compelled to participate in mass state campaigns, official events, cleaning activities, construction work, and other tasks that are unrelated to their professional duties. Another serious problem is the practice of forced financial collections from employees of state institutions. Workers are often required to contribute money to events or activities that have no connection to their work. These may include so-called “sadaka” charity events, official celebrations, state campaigns, or the compulsory purchase of various publications and books written by the former president known as “Arkadag.” Such practices are compulsory in nature and create an additional financial burden for workers who are already receiving extremely low wages. One of the key problems remains the extremely low level of wages, which are completely disproportionate to the real cost of living. Salaries, pensions, and social benefits remain minimal, while the prices of food and essential goods continue to rise. The situation is particularly severe in rural areas and small towns, where decent working conditions are largely absent, employment opportunities are extremely limited, and economic prospects for the population remain very poor. Another systemic issue is the absence of independent trade unions. Only state-controlled trade union structures operate in Turkmenistan, and they do not effectively protect workers’ rights or represent their interests. As a result, citizens are deprived of the possibility to collectively defend their labour rights. Low wages and the lack of real mechanisms for protecting workers’ rights contribute to the spread of corruption. In many sectors, obtaining employment, securing promotion, or even maintaining a job often depends on informal payments or personal connections. The lack of decent employment opportunities within the country has led to mass labour migration of Turkmen citizens. Hundreds of thousands of people are forced to seek work abroad. At the same time, labour migrants are rarely recognized by the state as an important economic factor, even though their remittances support many families and effectively contribute to the national economy. Instead of creating conditions for decent work within the country, the authorities of Turkmenistan continue to ignore the fundamental problems related to labour rights. The Human Rights Platform of the Civic Movement DAYANCH Turkmenistan calls on the international community, including the International Labour Organization, to pay close attention to the real situation of workers in Turkmenistan and to advocate for: the elimination of all forms of forced labour; fair and decent wages for workers; the establishment and protection of independent trade unions; improved labour conditions in rural areas and small towns; recognition of the role of labour migrants and protection of their rights; the abolition of forced financial collections from employees of state institutions. Without genuine reforms and real guarantees for workers’ rights, official statements about “developing cooperation” remain merely formal declarations that do not reflect the reality faced by millions of citizens in Turkmenistan.