Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan, the draft law on trade unions was vetoed three times in 2021 by President Japarov, in April, July and November. The law was drafted by the parliament without properly consulting workers’ unions, competent government officials or the expertise of the International Labour Organization (ILO). It largely contradicts the country’s constitution and core labour standards, including ILO Conventions 87 and 98. In particular, it would have installed a trade union monopoly of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan and would have put all unions under the latter’s control. Despite these clear vetoes by the executive power and the opposition of the independent trade unions, in early 2022 the Kyrgyz parliament once again tabled the bill.

On 28 January 2022, the Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan (FTUKg) planned to hold the Federation Council, which was supposed to set the date for the Unification Congress. In the morning of the 28th, at 7:50 a.m., Ryskul Babayeva, FTUKg deputy chairperson, was arbitrarily detained by police officers of the Alamedin district on a false denunciation. After investigation by the police, it was revealed that the denunciation was slanderous. Babayeva was released and was able to attend the council.