The ATUC chairman held a press conference with journalists
14 Aug 2020
ATUC Chairman, MP Sattar Mohbaliyev held a press conference at the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation on August 14 on "Measures taken by the ATUC during the coronavirus pandemic."
Addressing
the media, the ATUC chairman said that in a video conference held on August 6
by President Ilham Aliyev on the measures taken to combat the coronavirus
pandemic and the socio-economic situation in the country, the meeting showed
that our country is committed to combating COVID. From the first day, he made
the right decisions, skillfully took advantage of internal opportunities andwas
able to control the situation. The result is obvious. As Mr. Ilham Aliyev said
at the meeting: “Positive dynamics is observed in the fight against
coronavirus. This positive dynamic from July 16 to date gives grounds to say
that all the measures taken are timely ... The number of infected from July 16
to date is much lower than the number of cured.
The trade
unions of Azerbaijan appreciate the decisions taken by President Ilham Aliyev
to strengthen the social protection and improve the welfare of the country's
citizens, including trade union members, and all the steps taken in connection
with the health and well-being of the people and the address of the First
Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, who has such high human qualities as
compassion, to the people during these probationary days, and her sincere
shares on the Instagram page are bright examples of moral support.
Of
course, Azerbaijani trade unions also took part in the fight against the
pandemic. The ATUC and its member organizations have taken all possible steps
to help eradicate the coronavirus infection.
S.
Mohbaliyev emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev had repeatedly instructed not
to lay off workers in connection with the pandemic, to protect their labor
rights, and demanded that these issues be taken seriously. Of course, the
requirements of the President are in line with our goals, and we always support
him.
The ATUC
chairman noted that the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan actively
participated in webinars for trade unions of international organizations,
including the Pan-European Regional Council and the International Labor
Organization. informed the participants about the events held. Both
international organizations praised the measures taken in this area in our
country.
During
the pandemic, the protection of workers' labor rights was the focus of trade
unions. The Notification addressed to the employers by the group established by
the Operational Headquarters was sent to all member organizations.
In order
to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our country, during the special quarantine
regime, the trade unions provided financial support to the participants of the
Karabakh war, the families of martyrs, single people and low-income families.
Recently, the ATUC alone has provided more than 303,000 manat in financial
assistance to more than 1,200 trade union members.
In
addition, the Azerbaijan Trade Union Confederation transferred 250,000 manat to
the Coronavirus Support Fund and 200,000 manat to support the fight against
coronavirus in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. On April 13, 2020, the
Heydar Aliyev Foundation signed a contract with the Regional Development Public
Union. According to the agreement, the ATUC transferred 105,000 manat to the
Union's account. On July 27, 2020, in addition to the "Regional
Development" Public Union, 100 thousand manats were transferred. At the
same time, 10,000 manat was transferred to the Council of Trade Unions of the
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to combat COVID-19 infection.
According
to the decision of the ATUC Executive Committee meeting held on August 13, in
addition to the Coronavirus Support Fund of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic,
another 100,000 manat was provided, and the Nakhchivan Trade Union Council
received 10,000 manat. The meeting also decided to take care of 41 minors of 23
servicemen killed in the battles of April 2016 and July 2020 and to provide
each child with 150 manat per month until the age of 18.
During
this period, mobile groups established by the ATUC and its subordinate
organizations distributed AZN 1,305,748 to 29,588 low-income families,
including 68 tons of food gifts to 3,900 low-income families living in 76
cities and regions. Provided financial assistance in the amount of 1,959,881
manat to needy people over 65 years of age, members of impoverished trade
unions, and distributed protective equipment worth 351,056 manat to trade union
members for use in quarantine regime. During this period, ATUC alone provided
AZN 302,979 in financial assistance to needy trade union members. At the same
time, the leaders of the trade unions made donations from their salaries to the
Coronavirus Foundation, and 477,760 manats were transferred to the Fund by the
trade unions.
ATUC
member organizations provided AZN 900,748 in financial assistance and food
assistance to low-income families in their fields.
In
total, Azerbaijani trade unions spent more than 4,204,445 manat to support the
fight against coronavirus and the measures taken by the state. These measures
are still ongoing.
Mohbaliyev
reiterated that we, as trade unions, must continue to build our work on the
basis of decisions and instructions adopted by the Operational Headquarters
under the Cabinet of Ministers. First of all, our members must strengthen the
control over the observance of these rules by strictly adhering to the
quarantine regime. As trade unions, we must once again pay more attention to
the protection of socio-economic rights of workers, the solution of their
social problems in this area, employment issues.
At the
press conference, the ATUC chairman also answered questions of journalists.
