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A conference was held in Baku with the support of the International Labor Organization

04 Dec 2019

On December 4, the Hyatt Regency Hotel hosted a conference of the trade unions of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the theme "Climate Change and Economic Change: Reaction of Trade Unions" with the technical support of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Opening the conference, Ilyas Aliyev, the First Deputy Chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan, focused on climate change, one of the Sustainable Development Goals. This requires urgent action to address climate change and its impacts. The world community already knows that climate change affects everyone in the world. It is no coincidence that the 4th Congress of the Confederation of International Trade Unions was widely talked about environmental development. The Congressional Statement calls for the application of an alternative perspective that combines social, environmental and other aspects and exceeds the framework of full economic development.
     WFP is committed to making every effort to achieve the objectives set out in the Sustainable Development Goals. He considers it important to focus on the creation of healthy and safe working conditions in the Department of Labor Rights, Occupational Health and Safety in the General Collective Agreement for 2018-2019, which considers occupational health as a priority.
     The Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan has set up a Commission on Sustainable Development Goals. The members of the commission prepared the document "UN Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030 - Development Strategy for Promoting Sustainable Development of Trade Unions". The document outlines 6 goals from the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda as a priority for the ATUC. These are poverty, good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, and partnership for goals.
     This issue is widely covered by the "Key Directions for 2018-2025" adopted at the V Congress of the ATUC. It was noted that trade unions will fight for the creation of jobs that are free from harmful production factors of "green jobs", have decent working conditions, eliminate injuries, occupational diseases, and negative environmental impacts. The basics of environmental culture have been taught to trade union activists for over 10 years at the Azerbaijan Academy of Labor and Social Relations. The ATUC recommends trade union organizations to pay special attention to environmental and environmental awareness among workers in the preparation of collective bargaining agreements.
     There are favorable conditions and initial examples for creating a green economy in Azerbaijan. Examples are the Sumgait Chemicals industry, Garadagh, Mingachevir, Pirallahi and Balakhani industrial parks. Today, new technologies are being created in our country based on modern technologies, and the green economy is developing in accordance with the principles of environmental legislation.
    I. Aliyev noted that we are pleased that a delegation of the trade union of the fraternal Republic of Turkmenistan, which is closer to us in terms of language, religion, traditions, is with us at today's conference. The commitment of our peoples to the historic friendship and the high level of confrontation and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries is proclaimed by the heads of both states. Further development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in political, economic, trade, energy, transport, logistics and cultural and humanitarian spheres is planned.
     As you know, recently, on November 30, the opening ceremony of the TANAP pipeline connecting Europe with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev and President of the Turkish Republic Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan was held in the Ispala settlement of Edirne, Turkey.
     The fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkmenistan have created the need for fraternal relations between trade unions of both countries. We intend to cooperate with our Turkmen brothers in all international organizations and events. I think that the trade unions of Turkmenistan will be with us both in the Confederation of International Trade Unions and in the trade unions of the CIS countries.
     Today's conference is of particular importance. I think that the exchange of ideas with the friends of Turkmenistan and the recommendations of the workshop participants will have a positive impact on our overall work.
     The two-day conference will discuss the results and recommendations of the UN Centennial Session, the ILO Convention No. 144 as an Effective Tool for the Promotion of International Labor Standards at the National level, the priorities of the Azerbaijan Trade Unions for Sustainable Development Goals, jobs, National Situation-Employment-Energy-Environment, “Green jobs and a fair transition to economic diversification. ACTRAV Policy and Recommendations ”.