Work

Contesting Labour Violations in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Fields

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article shares a co-written work and life biography of a prominent female international human rights defender working to strengthen civil society in Uzbekistan. We centre the article on the experience of Malika Nazar, who was falsely imprisoned and remains a person of interest to the authorities. Drawing on participant reflexivity interviews, a workshop and a public lecture, we contribute to the literature on coercive labour and actor agency in supply chains and Global Value Chains (GVCs) at a time of authoritarian crackdowns on activists across Uzbek society and in a context where labour rights monitors continue to face major threats and risks. The central contribution of this OtFL article is to showcase work and its tensions rooted in the Global East.

Source: Work Employment and Society

DOI: 10.1177/09500170251408614

Authors: Darren McGuire, Malika Nazar, Laura Piacentini, Pratima Sambajee

Institution: University of Strathclyde

Language: English

Topic: Global trade, sustainability, and social impact

Subfield: Strategy and Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Decent work and economic growth, Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,900