Deputy governor fined for forcing women to pick cotton

A video showing Dilfuza Tashmatova, Deputy Governor of the Saryosiyo district of Surkhandarya region and Head of the Family and Women's Department, forcing mahalla women activists to pick cotton, recently spread on social media. The Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment has issued a statement on the incident.

The ministry confirmed that the deputy governor instructed mahalla activists to forcibly involve 5–10 citizens in cotton picking. As a result, she was fined 50 times the basic calculation amount (20 million 600 thousand soums) under Part 1 of Article 51 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, which concerns administrative compulsion to labor.

“Remember: forced labor is prohibited under Article 5 of the Labor Code. Such actions may result in a fine ranging from 50 to 100 times the basic calculation amount, in line with Part 1 of Article 51 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility,” the ministry stressed.

The ministry reminded citizens that they can report cases of forced labor by calling 1176 or (71) 200-06-00, assuring that the confidentiality of complainants will be protected.

It is worth noting that earlier, reports emerged of teachers being forced to pick cotton at Secondary School No. 9 in the Khavos district of Syrdarya region. Following the incident, a disciplinary penalty was imposed on the head of the district preschool and school education department, and the school director’s suitability for the position is under review. District governor Ulugbek Yuldashev also received a disciplinary reprimand for failing to maintain sufficient oversight of educational institutions and for ineffective awareness work.