Tajikistan trade unions highlight priorities in a changing world of work

Tajikistan trade unions highlight priorities in a changing world of work

Tajikistan trade union representatives and ILO experts discussed how to strengthen social dialogue and collective bargaining in Tajikistan amid labour market transformations.

11 March 2026

DUSHANBE (ILO News) - An international webinar jointly organized by the Bureau of Workers' Activities (ACTRAV) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Tajikistan (FITUT) brought together trade union leaders, international experts and national stakeholders to discuss how to strengthen social dialogue and enhance the representativeness of workers in a rapidly changing world of work.

Held online and spanning several thematic sessions, the event provided a platform for exchanging international experience and practical tools on collective bargaining, labour standards and union strategies. Particular attention was paid to the implications of global economic transformations, including digitalization, the expansion of global supply chains and the rise of non-standard forms of employment, for workers and their organizations.

Opening the event, Faizizoda Ismail Narzi, First Deputy Chairman of FITUT, emphasized the timeliness of the discussion. He noted that the outcomes of the webinar would be especially valuable in light of the upcoming negotiations on a new national tripartite general agreement in Tajikistan between the Government, employers' and workers' organizations. He also highlighted that promoting compliance with international labour standards and advancing decent work in multinational enterprises and supply chains as well as in the platform economy, should be key priorities in this process, alongside broader efforts to strengthen social dialogue.

Sobir Aminov, ILO National Coordinator in Tajikistan (DWT/CO for Eastern Europe and Central Asia), underlined that the webinar forms part of the Action Plan for Cooperation between the Tripartite Partners of the Republic of Tajikistan and the ILO on Decent Work for 2025-2026. He noted that the initiative is designed to support the promotion of decent work in the context of emerging challenges in the labour market and across key economic sectors, and to strengthen cooperation among tripartite partners in addressing these issues.

Mélanie Jeanroy, Specialist in Workers' Activities, Legal and Labour Protection (ACTRAV), provided an overview of the international normative framework governing workers' rights. She emphasized that freedom of association and collective bargaining, as set out in the ILO Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), are fundamental enabling rights that allow workers to organize and negotiate effectively. She further highlighted the responsibility of governments to create enabling legal and institutional frameworks that support the full development of collective bargaining systems.

In his intervention, Gocha Aleksandria, Senior Specialist in Workers' Activities (DWT/CO for Eastern Europe and Central Asia), focused on the practical role of social dialogue and trade unions in today's changing world of work. He noted that transformations such as digitalization, global supply chains, platform employment and informality require stronger and more strategic union engagement. Social dialogue, he stressed, is not a formality but a key tool for influencing working conditions, protecting rights and shaping socio-economic policies. During the discussions, the participants highlighted that workers covered by collective agreements tend to have higher wages and better conditions, while strong social dialogue contributes to higher productivity. It was also emphasized that union effectiveness in negotiations depends on factors such as representativeness, organizational capacity, access to data, negotiation skills and coordination.

Victor Hugo Ricco, Senior Specialist in Workers' Activities (ACTRAV), addressed the challenges and opportunities linked to multinational enterprises and global supply chains. He highlighted the importance of the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) as a key international instrument guiding responsible business conduct. In particular, he stressed that enterprises are expected to carry out human rights due diligence, trade unions play a crucial role in identifying and addressing labour risks, social dialogue and collective bargaining are essential tools for ensuring compliance with labour standards across supply chains.

Claire La Hovary, Senior Specialist in International Labour Standards and Legal Issues (ACTRAV), focused on emerging forms of work, particularly in the platform economy. She outlined the specific characteristics of platform-based employment and highlighted ongoing international discussions on developing new labour standards in this area. She also emphasized the relevance of the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy Recommendation, 2015 (No. 204), particularly in the context of Tajikistan.

Key takeaways

The webinar highlighted several key priorities for trade unions and policymakers:

• Strengthening social dialogue as a cornerstone of labour governance
• Expanding and improving collective bargaining systems
• Enhancing trade union capacity and representativeness
• Promoting compliance with international labour standards, including in global supply chains
• Adapting labour regulation and union strategies to new forms of work, including platform employment

As emphasized throughout the discussions, reinforcing the role of trade unions and deepening social dialogue will be essential for advancing decent work and inclusive economic development in Tajikistan and beyond.