Legal boundaries of restrictions on the right to strike in Uzbekistan: The institution of minimum necessary works (services) in the context of international labour standards

Abstract

This article analyses, through the prism of international labour standards, the institution of strike action introduced into the labour legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan by Law No. ZRU-1150 of 11 June 2026, with particular emphasis on restrictions on the right to strike and the mechanism for ensuring minimum necessary work (services). The central issue is to determine the legal boundary between an absolute prohibition and a minimum-service regime sufficient to protect the life, health and personal safety of the population. The study demonstrates that the Uzbek model contains mechanisms of a general prohibition in emergency circumstances, absolute prohibitions applicable to certain categories and sectors, minimum necessary services, and temporary judicial restrictions. It argues that, instead of imposing an identical prohibition on all workers in the healthcare, energy, water-supply and communications sectors, restrictions should be linked to the particular function performed by the worker and to the real risk arising from the interruption of that function. The article develops a seven-stage system of criteria for assessing restrictions on the right to strike and proposes that the scope of minimum service be determined by agreement between the parties, with disagreements to be resolved promptly through impartial labour arbitration.