Location: Syrdarya and Kashkadarya regions, Uzbekistan

Sector: Agricolture

Summary

Multiple violations of labor rights, illegal land confiscations, loss of livelihoods, and intimidation and retaliations against workers and rights monitors. Workers are in perpetual insecure employment as service providers on contracts that automatically expire. Workers have been ordered to perform work for no pay outside the contract period under threat their contracts would not be renewed. CSOs have reported violations to IFC and co-lender EBRD since 2021 and 2020 respectively. Both lenders failed to ensure compliance. In November 2024 IPAM disclosed an investigation after Uzbek Forum and Bankwatch filed a request for compliance review with EBRD in August 2023. On January 15, 2025, IFC management informed CSOs that Indorama had prepaid its loans to both IFC and EBRD and that Responsible Exit Principles did not apply. Workers are now exposed to severe risk of further exploitation, inlcuding forced labor. There is no functioning grievance mechanism and the trade union does not represent the interests of workers. Rights monitors can no longer monitor the project after receiving threats of criminal charges. Project affected people have no means of securing remedy.

Relevant IFC performance standards

  • Performance Standard 1 Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
  • Performance Standard 2 Labor and Working Conditions
  • Performance Standard 3 Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention
  • Performance Standard 4 Community Health, Safety, and Security
  • Performance Standard 5 Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement
  • Performance Standard 6 Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources

Read more

“International Organizations Cannot Help You. Do not speak to them.”

“Uzbek cotton harvest 2023: risk of forced labour remains high”

“EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism investigates the Indorama Agro cotton project in Uzbekistan”

  • Coalition for Human Rights in Development’s report “Financing Repression” – case study on Indorama at page 39
  • Complaint at EBRD accountability mechanism – summary of request available here