In early August, Turkmenistan required at least state workers to pick cotton during peak season. In the Lebap province, the government required at least 50 percent of all state agencies to mobilize their staff for cotton picking during the weekdays. Unfortunately, on the weekends, all staff must go cotton picking. The staff have a required amount of cotton to pick per day, usually about 20-25 kilos. Government representatives visit the field to take daily attendance for cotton picking. All types of workers are required to attend, including teachers, doctors, librarians, transportation workers, etc. Those who refused to work were threatened with loss of their jobs. Although some feel trapped, some have found loopholes. Bribing others to do their picking, pay ranging from $8.50-$14.00 a day. It has been made clear to the workers that the government only cares about meeting their daily quotas, it doesn’t matter who is there or how it’s done as long as it is met. The workers are put through rough working environments and extreme weather conditions. Oftentimes workers must find a way to transport themselves to the fields because it is not provided. Recently, teachers and doctors have been freed from required cotton picking in multiple regions. There are worries that this is only temporary because of incoming visits from the International Labor Organization (ILO) and representatives of the U.S. Department of Labor. There is confusion as this time of year is the height season for cotton picking and has required picking for decades. Hopefully the exemption is not temporary but there is hope that this will lead to a better future for cotton picking in Turkmenistan.
Service, RFE/RL’s Turkmen. “Involuntary Volunteers: Turkmenistan Mobilizes State Workers to Pick Cotton.” RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 20 Sept. 2023, www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-cotton-forced-labor-state-workers/32566055.html.
Habartm. “Teachers and Doctors in Turkmenistan Exempt from Cotton Picking – Could This Be Permanent?” Turkmen.News, 21 Sept. 2023, en.turkmen.news/news/teachers-and-doctors-in-turkmenistan-exempt-from-cotton-picking-could-this-be-permanent/.
