More than 70 percent of workers in Kyrgyzstan are employed in the informal sector. Deputy Chairperson of the Federation of Trade Unions, Ryskul Babaeva, stated at a meeting of the Council on the Rights of Women, Children and Gender Equality.
According to her, the highest employment in informal sector is registered in the garment industry, trade, agriculture, construction, and public catering.
«I’m not even talking about workers working at home, but this is also an informal sector. No employment contracts have been concluded with employees, and their rights are not protected. We cannot reduce the share of the informal sector in our country. It remains at the level of 70 percent,» Ryskul Babaeva said.
According to her, since 2008, not a single convention on labor protection has been ratified. There are conventions adopted during the Soviet Union.
Deputy Gulya Kozhokulova noted that not all citizens know their rights. «Even if you get a job as a waiter, you have to sign a contract to pay social benefits,» she added.
The deputy emphasized that the majority of Kyrgyzstanis are not protected. According to her, business takes advantage of the citizens and does not pay taxes.
