Conference on "100th Anniversary of the ILO"
06 May 2019
There was held a conference on "100th Anniversary of the ILO"by the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan with the support of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Hyatt Regensy Hotel on May 6.
At the begining of the conference, the chairman of ATUC,
Mr S.Mohbaliyev, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population
M.Karimli, President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs
(Employers') Organizations M.Musayev, Head of ILO Bureau for Central Asia and
Europe S. Glovaskas made an opening speech.
At the beginning of his speech S.Mohalbalihev
congratulated the participants of the conference on the 100th anniversary of
the International Labor Organization (ILO), which played a major role in the
protection of and since 2002 has its representative office in Azerbaijan, and
we have extensive cooperation with this organization.
Participation in the ILO work, one of the world's oldest
and most prominent organizations, enables Azerbaijan to learn and apply
international experience in regulating social labor disputes, develop social
partnerships (government, trade unions, employers), and benefit from ILO
recommendations to improve and regulate the labor market creates. It promotes
the development of labor law norms based on international experience, affects
the development of entrepreneurship, as well as the development of small
businesses, employment problems.
Azerbaijan's ILO interacts with regularly signed
cooperation programs. These programs envisage a variety of forms of interaction
on how to expand employment opportunities and create new jobs in the country,
increase labor safety and strengthen social protection as well as respect
international labor standards and develop social dialogue.
The ILO provides consultation assistance to Azerbaijan in
the examination of social labor legislation, the concept of social partnership,
the application of the modular system of staff training in production,
improvement of employment, social protection and retirement benefits,
development of labor statistics, professional classification and training of
specialists.
Benefiting from the ILO's capabilities and experience in
formulating a state employment policy, combating poverty, labor migration,
modernization of labor law, social and pension system, personnel training and
retraining are in our best interests.
S.Mohbaliyev further noted that over the past 27 years,
the Azerbaijani Trade Unions Confederation and the ILO have established active
relations with the factor of continuously expanding cooperation in labor, labor
relations, employment, labor safety and protection, improvement of labor
legislation. Together with the delegations of government agencies of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, trade union representatives also attended about 190
seminars and conferences, conferences held in different countries on labor,
employment, occupational health, safety and social protection of the
population. Over the past 12 years, 88 seminars, 30 conferences, more than 40
subregional meetings, training courses, forums, presentations and events have
been held with the support of ILO and the AHIK.
Particularly interesting was the creation of trade unions
and the organization of social dialogue in transnational companies operating in
Azerbaijan with the financial support of the International Labor Organization.
Roundtable on "Experience, perspectives and challenges of trade unions in
transnational companies operating in the Republic of Azerbaijan", seminar
and conference on "Trade unions and transnational companies" was held
within the project. The interlocutors of transnational companies 'trade
unions', 'Status of compliance with the Labor Code' and other topics were
discussed at these events. As a result of the discussions, a substantial
analysis paper on the topic "Establishing trade unions in transnational
companies operating in Azerbaijan and its prospects" was drafted, draft
law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Social Partnership", "An
example of collective agreement between employer and trade union in
transnational companies operating in Azerbaijan" The position and strategy
of Azerbaijan Trade Unions on the rules for conducting social dialogue,
"" Memory for workers working in transnational companies operating in
Azerbaijan "," Recommendations on the establishment of trade unions
in transnational companies operating in Azerbaijan "
Supporting the ILO modernization course, "Trade
Unions in the Deepening of the Economic Crisis. More than 5,000 trade union
activists participated in events such as "Non-formal economy - Trade union
policies and activities", "Role of trade unions in decent work in the
context of national dialogue", "Sustainable development: duties and
prospects of trade unions".
Chairman
of ATUC also said that Azerbaijan has ratified 58 ILO Conventions over the past
period. ATUC also takes extensive measures to implement ILO conventions
in our country. We continue to work effectively with the ILO through the
implementation of joint projects in decent labor, employment, labor migration,
social protection, rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. This
contributes to the development of these spheres in our country.
Representatives of the Trade Unions Confederation of
Azerbaijan and the Trade UnionS of republican comittees participate in the
annual meetings of the International Labor Organization together with
government representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan and present their
principal position on the discussed issues. Our Republic exploits all opportunities
to fulfill its commitments to the Council of Europe after joining the European
Social Charter.
Our Republic closely participates in international
initiatives of the international community as well as the United Nations (UN)
on global development. The acquaintance with practical and innovative ideas in
this area over the past 15 years has been an important factor facilitating the
successful implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's trade unions join the ILO call on the future of the labor market
and supports the ILO Initiative for the future spheres of labor. We support the
UN's future development of labor by 2030 and the UN's goals of sustainable
development aimed at poverty alleviation as the end of the struggle against
unemployment and we will try to participate in its implementation.
S.
Mohbaliyev stressed that the ILO's Global comission’s Report on the Future of
work focuses on humanitarian life. This report promotes the development of
human abilities and skills, labor market institutions, and investment in decent
and sustainable employment. In the report of the Global Commission it is
necessary to create new professional knowledge, professionalism and retraining,
to increase investments in enterprises, strategies and policies, to provide
general social protection from childhood to adulthood, to create collective
representation of employers and employers through social dialogue based on
active state policy, such as the application of technology for the sake of labor
interests are positive changes that will take place in the future spheres of
work, and show how to use them.
We urge all participants in the future of work to support
the formation of national and international policies in order to achieve what
everyone expects of the future spheres of labor.
The
"Country Labor Program for 2016-2020 of the Republic of Azerbaijan"
was developed with the participation of the International Labor Organization
and our social partners and was adopted in September 2016. Immediately
after that, the ATUC Executive Committee approved the Concept of the
Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan on the implementation of the
"Country Program on Decent Work for the Republic of Azerbaijan for
2016-2020." The concept and measures to be taken by the trade union are
defined in 8 directions.
It was noted in the speech that the ATUC has taken a
number of measures in this direction jointly with ILO. Thus, seminars held with
the technical support of the ILO covered the topics covered in Chapter 8. Since 2014, the role of trade unions
in the formulation of youth employment policy, the advantages of establishing a
trilateral commission, ILO view, world practice, Increase the role of women in
trade unions, and A series of events on the role of trade unions in promoting
decent work IN the Republic of Azerbaijan 2016-2020, "Future of
Labor" initiative was held.
Speaking about the eighth goal in the agenda of
sustainable development S.Mohbalbaliev considered tofocus attention on the following
issues:
First and foremost, global measures in the field of
sustainable development will be set, while each state will set goals that will
suit its own development level and capabilities. The success of each state will
depend largely on their activities and policies. The recommendations of the
International Labor Organization are well balanced and can help to develop an
effective policy.
Strengthening state capacity and strengthening state
institutions will also be of great importance. This, in turn, will help to more
accurately gather and analyze the labor market statistical data. At present,
there is a great need for multilateral cooperation of international
organizations and governments with the private sector, civil society, local
authorities and other stakeholders.
The adoption and practical application of ILO
Recommendation 205 in providing decent labor would be one of the most effective
tools to achieve our goals. The second important aspect is to ensure global
co-operation. Globalization processes, the international political and economic
situation will have an impact on goals. Therefore, the ILO must take the lead
in using the capabilities of the unions and various global governing groups to
help them co-operate with countries on these issues.
The third direction is to improve partnerships and
cooperation. We need to benefit from world experience by expanding our business
partner with social partners. We need the ILO's assistance in studying
international experience in this area.
We have mobilized our capabilities to fulfill the goals
set out in the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for Fair Globalization. The
impact of the National Triangle Commission on Social and Economic Affairs is
also remarkable in this regard.
The chairman of the ATUC informed the participants that
2019 can be historically significant as a year of important social reforms and
successful economic projects for Azerbaijan. As President Ilham Aliyev said, if
the 2017 year we have left behind is a year of economic stabilization, 2018 as
a year of deep economic reform, this year will be written as memories of the
revolutionary reforms in the social sphere.
Only in February, when we look at the factors that make
it, we see that eight orders signed by Ilham Aliyev in one month have served to
improve the social well-being of people, strengthening social protection of
vulnerable families, refugees and internally displaced persons, war veterans,
martyr families and students. All this is part of the president's major social
reform package.
The state constantly cares about its citizens, sees its
welfare, solves its social problems as a priority, and carries out a purposeful
policy in this direction. Once we look at the documents that are part of the
president's big social package, we clearly see the care of the state's citizen.
These socially important measures will also have a positive impact on the
legalization of labor relations and will contribute to the elimination of
informal employment.
Protection of labor rights of citizens, satisfaction of
material and social needs of employees, provision of decent living standards
are one of the main directions of successful socio-economic policy. Over the
past 15 years, our country has increased wages 7 times, as well as minimum
wages by 6.5 times. Successful reforms are being carried out in our country for
the development of education, the material and technical basis of educational
institutions are strengthened, and special attention is paid to the training of
highly qualified specialists. The Order on Granting Scholarships to Students is
a logical continuation of this process. These documents serve to strengthen
their social protection by taking more scholarships. The decree on the issue of
problem loans has been a successful continuation of the new social policy since
the beginning of the year.
As one
of the main directions of our social policy, which is being implemented in our
country, is importancy of strengthening the social protection of martyr
families and taking important steps in improving their welfare.
State care covers almost all segments of the population.
Thus, pensions, scholarships and minimum wages have been increased
significantly. The minimum amount of pensions from 116 to 160 manat, the
minimum wage from 130 to 180 manat can be considered an unusual increase for
any country in the world. Mr. Mohbaliyev noted that the world experience shows
that a strong trade union and a strong employer organization are needed for the
social partnership to be effective. The first collective agreement in the world
is 150, and in Azerbaijan - 115 years. The ILO, celebrating its 100th
anniversary, has given great impetus to the development of trilateral
cooperation and social co-operation. Trilateral social partnership has now
become the main stage in the development of social dialogue in the
implementation of the trade union defense function.We are deeply grateful to
all of them. I would like to address this gratitude primarily to
General-Director of ILO, Mr. Qay Rayder. I would like to highlight the official
visits of Qay Rayder to the Republic of Azerbaijan in May of last year, which
came out of the "tent" of trade unions.
At a meeting with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the ILO General Director emphasized the importance of the
socio-important measures taken by the President to improve the well-being of
the population, ensure social protection and create jobs. He stressed that his
organization has been successfully cooperating with Azerbaijan and hopes that
this visit will contribute to the strengthening of our relations. She highly
appreciated Azerbaijan's selection of a focal region in the region for an
active policy to increase employment opportunities in the conditions of
sustainable development in Azerbaijan. An international conference on
"Towards Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Development and Decent
Work" held in Baku with the support of the ILO and Q.Rayder highlighted
the importance of the International Labor Organization for each country.
At the
end of his speech, a chairman of ATUC expressed his confidence that the
International Labor Organization would be included in the second-century
program with a high level of modern software. Therefore, the member
states of the ILO have very important tasks. They took the centenary's
initiative as their own and took on responsibility for its fulfillment. As you
know, within the framework of the 100th anniversary of the ILO, spectacular
events have been held and are being continued. According to the documents
prepared in 2015, the future of the labor market has triggered interstate
dialogue. It has become the subject of the centuries-old dialogue. Today, on
the eve of the 100th anniversary of the ILO, we discuss very important, but
also responsible issues, exchange business contacts, and evaluate the
activities of an organization that has been effectively cooperating for many
years. I wish you all success in your future work. Deputy Minister of Labor and
Social Protection of Population Metin Kerimli spoke about the importance of the
event. He said that the use of ILO's expertise and experience in formulating a
state employment policy, combating poverty, labor migration, modernization of
labor law, social and pension system, personnel training and retraining is in
our best interests.
President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs
(Employers') Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev said
that more than 9,000 entrepreneurs were registered in our country, and 4,000 of
them are legal entities. Speaking about the importance of implementing joint
projects with the support of ILO, M. Musayev expressed his confidence that
Azerbaijan will achieve high economic growth and high-quality employment. Then
Serkius Glovaskas-head of the ILO Office for Central Asia and Europe, greeted
the conference participants on a remarkable day, saying that Azerbaijan, which
has a great deal of ILO, participates in the Governing Board of the
organization, the Director General of the World Bank, told about the importance
of signing a tripartite commission on technical cooperation and the signing of
the programs. Sergius Glovaskas, Chairman of
ATUC, Sattar Mogbalaliev, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Ilyas
Aliyev, Deputy Deputies Aqil Dadashova, Javanshir Alkhasova, Abil Agasiyeva,
Head of the Department of Intellectual Property Hasan Jafarova and Heads of
Departments of the Azerbaijan National Association of Culture Workers
Chairwoman Jamila Sattarova, Chairperson of Republican Committee of Public
Administration and Public Service Workers Union Hikmat Osmanova, Chairman of
Communication Workers' Union Seymur Orujova, Chairman of the Union of Electric
Power Industry and Electrical Engineering Industry Rafig Ildarova presented ILO
Honorary Resolutions.
The conference will later cover its work on 3 panels -
"The future spheres of work. Global Comission Report "," Purpose
of Sustainable Development (8th Purpose Labor)," Social Dialogue and
Social Partnership ", speeches were listened and exchange of views was held
among the participants.
