Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT92
2009-01-21 11:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: POST FINDINGS ON COTTON CHILD LABOR
how-toVZCZCXRO1320 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0092 0211125 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 211125Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2171 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4717 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2518 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2383 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2965 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3258
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000092
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL/ILCSR FOR MITTELHAUSER; G/TIP FOR
STEINER
DOL/ILAB FOR RACHEL RIGBY AND BRUCE YOON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PHUM EIND ETRD SOCI KTIP TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: POST FINDINGS ON COTTON CHILD LABOR
ISSUE
REF: A. STATE 1730
B. ASHGABAT 0066
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000092
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL/ILCSR FOR MITTELHAUSER; G/TIP FOR
STEINER
DOL/ILAB FOR RACHEL RIGBY AND BRUCE YOON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PHUM EIND ETRD SOCI KTIP TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: POST FINDINGS ON COTTON CHILD LABOR
ISSUE
REF: A. STATE 1730
B. ASHGABAT 0066
1. This is Post's response to Ref A's request for
information concerning child labor in the cotton fields and
forced labor in Turkmenistan. According to local UNICEF
representatives, reports about the widespread use of child
labor in the cotton harvest in Turkmenistan predate the
government's 2005 ban on the practice. This ban was
reaffirmed by President Berdimuhamedov in August 2008.
UNICEF is unable to confirm that child labor was used during
the 2008 cotton harvest. A 2007 UNICEF study to monitor
child employment and educational opportunities indicated a
very low level of employment among children between the ages
of 12 and 16, with no specifics as to the type or conditions
of employment (Ref B).
2. Child labor during the 2008 cotton harvest was not
noticed by or brought to the attention of Embassy officials
during travel outside the capital. A FSN who closely follows
agriculture, and cotton farming, in particular, has heard of
no reports of child labor during the 2008 harvest. During a
trip to a village in early November 2008 at the end of the
harvest, a local contact explained that the ban on child
labor was in effect and school officials would be held
accountable if children harvested cotton.
3. Post was not able to locate any material that reported
about the actual use of child labor during the 2008 cotton
harvest in Turkmenistan. A pre-harvest August 2008 article,
disseminated by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting,
cited various observers' doubts that the presidential ban
would be effective, but there was no further reporting about
the issue. Post did not receive a response from the
Government of Turkmenistan to its request for information on
any goods produced by child labor or government efforts to
combat the problem.
MILES
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL/ILCSR FOR MITTELHAUSER; G/TIP FOR
STEINER
DOL/ILAB FOR RACHEL RIGBY AND BRUCE YOON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PHUM EIND ETRD SOCI KTIP TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: POST FINDINGS ON COTTON CHILD LABOR
ISSUE
REF: A. STATE 1730
B. ASHGABAT 0066
1. This is Post's response to Ref A's request for
information concerning child labor in the cotton fields and
forced labor in Turkmenistan. According to local UNICEF
representatives, reports about the widespread use of child
labor in the cotton harvest in Turkmenistan predate the
government's 2005 ban on the practice. This ban was
reaffirmed by President Berdimuhamedov in August 2008.
UNICEF is unable to confirm that child labor was used during
the 2008 cotton harvest. A 2007 UNICEF study to monitor
child employment and educational opportunities indicated a
very low level of employment among children between the ages
of 12 and 16, with no specifics as to the type or conditions
of employment (Ref B).
2. Child labor during the 2008 cotton harvest was not
noticed by or brought to the attention of Embassy officials
during travel outside the capital. A FSN who closely follows
agriculture, and cotton farming, in particular, has heard of
no reports of child labor during the 2008 harvest. During a
trip to a village in early November 2008 at the end of the
harvest, a local contact explained that the ban on child
labor was in effect and school officials would be held
accountable if children harvested cotton.
3. Post was not able to locate any material that reported
about the actual use of child labor during the 2008 cotton
harvest in Turkmenistan. A pre-harvest August 2008 article,
disseminated by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting,
cited various observers' doubts that the presidential ban
would be effective, but there was no further reporting about
the issue. Post did not receive a response from the
Government of Turkmenistan to its request for information on
any goods produced by child labor or government efforts to
combat the problem.
MILES