European Trade Union Committee for Education

On 2 May 2019, ETUCE member organisation in Kyrgyzstan, Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Kyrgyzstan (TUESWK), reported about its positions against the draft law “On Trade Unions” that was published on the government website for public discussion on 12 April 2019.

According to the education trade union, the bill violates virtually all the rights of a sectoral trade union as an autonomous and independent organisations. TUESWK suggests that this is due to the lack of involvement of sectoral and territorial trade unions in drafting the bill.

“ The draft law defines the Federation of Trade Unions of the Kyrgyz Republic as “the only authorized representative of employees of affiliates in social partnership with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic at the republican level”, which is in contradiction with the ILO Conventions No. 87, No. 98, No. 144”, stated Asylbek Toktogulov, the President of TUESWK.

Furthermore, the bill infringes a number of articles of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Labour Code of the Kyrgyz Republic that define representation of workers during collective bargaining.

“ TUESWK unites more than 220 thousand members and in accordance with the chapter 79 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic it has the legitimate right to suggest amendments to the draft law “ On Trade Unions”. Thus, we demand the cancellation of the public consultations on the draft law without consideration”, concluded Asylbek Toktogulov.

ETUCE reconfirms its strong support with TUESWK and continues monitoring the situation.