Budget sector workers in Turkmenistan forced into extreme cotton labour
Budget sector employees in the western Turkmenistan province of Balkan, including teachers and doctors, were forced to interrupt their holidays and work on trimming and harvesting cotton, reported Azatlyk, the Turkmen section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. - The temperature exceeds 45°C. The four-litre jars we bring last until noon - said one of the doctors, who requested anonymity.
According to local media, the authorities' decision to send additional labour to the cotton fields is a consequence of recent criticism from the hakim (equivalent to the governor) regarding the situation in the cotton fields.
Harvesting work is delayed, and recently the hakim criticised the administration. After receiving a reprimand from the etrap (equivalent to county), he sent most of the medical personnel and nearly all teachers to the fields - said one of the informants, who requested anonymity.
Other informants claim that public sector employees forced to work in agriculture also work on privately owned cotton fields.
Budget sector employees in Turkmenistan are forced to work on cotton harvest
On Wednesday, around 50 healthcare workers were brought to harvest cotton on 95 hectares of fields supposedly owned by an official from the Ministry of Public Security. They were not given food or water. People felt like medieval slaves, described editors of Azatlyk. Workers were also reportedly deprived of their mobile phones.
We start work in the field (...) at 7 a.m. GMT and work until 7 p.m. GMT. They bring us in buses (...). The temperature exceeds 45°C, but while working, we don't even get water. The four-litre jars we bring with us last until noon - said one of the doctors, who requested anonymity.
Due to its unfavourable climate, the Balkan province produces the least cotton among Turkmenistan's provinces. A few years ago, the Turkmenistan government reduced cotton cultivation to increase sugar beet cultivation.
This did not solve the problem of forced labour by public sector employees, who are engaged without pay in cultivating beets, potatoes, and other crops—reported Azatlyk.
