Turkmenistan accused of forced labour in cotton fields

Turkmen cotton fields have come under the scrutiny of the Cotton Campaign that in its latest report appealed the fashion industry to act conclusively on forced labour in Turkmen cotton fields, stating that legal obligations must now be met.

Cotton Campaign, is an interdisciplinary coalition of human and labour rights organizations focused on cotton supply chains. Experts discussed the past, present and potential future of Turkmenistan’s use of forced labour and its relationship with the global apparel industry.

They said after a decade of negligible progress in Turkmenistan, it is now clear that a monumental challenge is facing those who wish to engender real change.

However, they hoped that the situation could improve if the fashion industry collectively acted.

The report asked for Turkmen cotton and funding comprehensive supply chain due diligence wherever possible, terming it as the minimum way to start the ball rolling on meaningful progress.

Companies and businesses must stop using Turkmen cotton goods.

It is their legal obligation not to do so.



What is going on in Turkmen cotton fields is similar to cotton-producing hotspots such as Uzbekistan and China’s Xinjiang region.

The report found children as young as eight being compulsorily engaged in physically grueling work, and this report intends to convey the information so that it grabs people’s attention. The report was prepared with the help of people who endangered their safety while recording evidence.