ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF WORKING CONDITIONS IN CARPET-WEAVING ENTERPRISES ON PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY AND WORKERS' HEALTH: EVIDENCE FROM UZBEKISTAN
Carpet weaving remains an economically significant and labour-intensive industry in Uzbekistan, concentrated mainly in small and family workshops with a high share of manual labour. Prolonged static workload and poor ergonomic conditions create preconditions for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and reduced production efficiency. The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of MSDs among carpet-weaving workers in Uzbekistan and to determine the relationship between working conditions, workers' health and production efficiency. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 200 weavers from 20-25 enterprises and workshops. Data were collected through surveys and interviews; MSD symptoms were assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and satisfaction with working conditions using the Likert scale. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS 14.0 (χ² test, Pearson correlation, multiple regression; p < 0.05). Results. All surveyed workers reported MSD symptoms over the previous 12 months; the neck (78.7%) and lower back (68.1%) were most affected. About 34% of workers had to interrupt work temporarily. More than half of respondents were dissatisfied with temperature (91.5%), noise (57.5%) and air quality (53.1%), as well as with seat design (80.9%). Upper-back symptoms were significantly associated with working hours (p = 0.005), and lower-back symptoms with work intensity (p = 0.035). Conclusion. Adverse working conditions and poor workplace ergonomics are significant factors of MSDs and reduced production efficiency, justifying the need for ergonomic and organisational-economic modernisation of the industry.
Dadabayeva N.U. “Assessing the impact of working conditions in carpet-weaving enterprises on production efficiency and workers' health: evidence from Uzbekistan”, Research Result. Economic Research, 12(3), 4-12, DOI: 10.18413/2409-1634-2026-12-3-0-1
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The author expresses gratitude to the employees and managers of carpet‑weaving enterprises who participated in the study for their assistance in collecting empirical data.