Tashkent, Uzbekistan - As part of the Global Accelerator project in Uzbekistan, which is aimed at employment formalization, development partners gathered to discuss an issue that lies at the heart of sustainable development and social justice - the protection of workers, especially those contributing to infrastructure development and construction works, on 4 February.
Most construction workers remain uninsured
Construction workers — be it engineers, machine operators, builders, electricians, plumbers, and many others — risk their health and life every day to build the roads, schools, hospitals, power plants, and water systems that form the backbone of economic and social progress. Their protection from risks of work injuries and occupational diseases is indispensable.
Work injury insurance is designed to shield workers and their families from falling into poverty after an accident, while also protecting employers from major financial liabilities. It provides medical care, income replacement, rehabilitation, disability benefits and survivors’ benefits in case of fatal accidents.
Despite this, nearly 7 in 10 construction workers lack coverage, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction and the ILO in 2022. The reasons are structural: projects are short-term, employers frequently hire temporary or day labourers, and many workers are not formally registered, leaving their social contributions unpaid. Some employers — and even some workers — avoid registration to reduce costs or retain eligibility for income-based social assistance programmes.
Compounding the problem, current social insurance and mandatory employer liability insurance do not cover non-employees. Yet 28 per cent of construction workers are self-employed, on civil contracts or working as independent contractors. This institutional gap significantly widens the coverage deficit.
Development partners commit to action
Many development partners financing infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan apply strict social safeguards that require contractors to comply with labour and safety standards. As a result, construction sites financed through development cooperation often show better compliance and oversight.
Still, participants agreed that more must be done. The meeting urged development partners to move beyond the traditional “do no harm” approach. “When a development partner finances an infrastructure project, it is not only building bridges or power plants; it is also shaping labour markets, influencing employment practices, and setting social benchmarks,” said Mr Yuri Sterk, ILO Senior Coordinator for Uzbekistan.
World Bank Social Development Specialist Mr Tolmasbek Boltayev echoed this sentiment, “Work injury insurance of construction workers is an important topic for all of us, and we are glad to continue our collaboration in exploring practical steps and collective actions.”
Experts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) highlighted several obstacles that hinder enrolment and emphasized the need for a holistic approach. Ms Liliia Kachkinbaeva, ADB consultant, noted that some workers avoid registration in order to retain eligibility for income‑tested social assistance. Others distrust social insurance systems due to lengthy and cumbersome benefit procedures. At the same time, poorly designed insurance mechanisms can create moral hazard among employers. In this context, lessons learned from work injury schemes in advanced economies offer valuable insights.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) also signalled its readiness to support improved safety management, emphasizing that accident prevention is a top priority. Mr Artem Kulbashnyi, Senior Project Manager noted how the organization applies high safety standards across its construction sites and currently implements practical contractual and monitoring tools at 47 project locations in the country. UNOPS indicated its willingness to share these practices more broadly with construction companies in Uzbekistan.
A shared vision for safer construction work
“We are delighted to see the collective commitment of development partners to help close the work injury insurance gap and strengthen the long‑term sustainability of Uzbekistan’s construction sector. The Global Accelerator project will continue working with national stakeholders as well to identify practical and workable solutions,” said Mr Kazutoshi Chatani, Senior Employment Specialist, ILO.
The UN, ILO, UNOPS, World Bank and ADB expressed their readiness to jointly support improved practices, promote workers’ protection, and ensure that the country’s infrastructure growth is built on a foundation of safety and social justice.
The Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, which focuses on employment formalization, has been made possible through support from the UN Joint SDG Fund, with generous contributions from the European Union and the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Their commitment plays a crucial role in helping countries like Uzbekistan turn ambitious SDG pledges into real, people-centred results on the ground.