The 39th meeting of the Advisory Council on Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has begun in Baku, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population told APA.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Anar Aliyev stated that the activities of the CIS Advisory Council on Labor, Employment and Social Protection are important not only for exchanging existing experience but also for discussing prospective development directions of labor and socio-economic policies, developing innovative approaches and identifying opportunities for practical cooperation.
He provided information on the reforms implemented in Azerbaijan in recent years in the fields of labor, employment and social protection under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.
The minister noted that five social reform packages covering 4 million people were implemented in Azerbaijan between 2018 and 2026, with an additional 8 billion manats ($4.7 billion) allocated annually for these reforms. He emphasized that preparations have already begun for the implementation of the sixth social reform package next year.
It was noted that, on an annual comparative basis, the coverage of active employment measures implemented by employment agencies has doubled. In particular, the number of people provided with jobs increased 3.6 times, the number of people involved in the self-employment program increased 2.7 times, the number of people enrolled in vocational training increased 7.1 times, and the number of people receiving career guidance services increased threefold. In addition, the average monthly amount of unemployment insurance payments increased 1.4 times.
It was also reported that during the specified period, the number of employment contracts increased by 44%, the minimum wage by 3.1 times, the average monthly wage by 2.1 times, and the wage fund by 3.4 times. Minimum and average monthly pensions increased approximately threefold, social benefits and pension payments increased fivefold, and the average monthly amount of targeted state social assistance increased 2.5 times.
Steps taken to improve legislation in the fields of labor and social protection were highlighted, and it was noted that the process of digitalization in this area has entered a broader stage of digital transformation.
It was emphasized that the DOST Agency and DOST centers were established at the initiative of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, and that DOST centers enable the provision of public social services through a "one-stop-shop" approach in a transparent, prompt manner focused on citizen satisfaction.
More than 90% of the ministry's services have been digitalized, and the social reforms implemented in Azerbaijan in recent years have received more than 300 international awards and certificates, including the United Nations Public Service Award.
Minister Anar Aliyev expressed confidence that the discussions and exchange of views during today's meeting of the CIS Advisory Council on Labor, Employment and Social Protection would make a significant contribution to the development of future activities.
Olga Kremskaya, Deputy Head of the Advisory Council's Secretariat and Adviser to the Department for Cooperation in Political, Humanitarian and Social Spheres of the CIS Executive Committee, delivered the opening address of CIS Deputy Secretary General Nurlan Seitimov.
The chairmanship of the Advisory Council was transferred from the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
First Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan Marat Jurayev provided information on the results achieved during his country's chairmanship of the Council and the implementation of decisions adopted at its 38th meeting.
On behalf of CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev, awards were presented to representatives of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction for the Uzbek side's contribution to cooperation in the labor and social spheres across the CIS during its chairmanship of the Advisory Council.
Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan Rashad Mustafayev, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Belarus Marina Artemenko, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan Bakhtiyar Jazykpayev, Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan Aida Isatbey kyzy, First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation Olga Batalina, First Deputy Minister of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population of Tajikistan Nasim Karimzoda, Head of the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan Gurban Gurbanov, and First Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan Marat Jurayev delivered speeches on the current situation in the social and labor sectors of their countries and the measures being implemented in these areas.
The meeting also featured information on the development of digital services in the fields of labor, employment and social protection in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
Presentations were delivered and discussions held on topics including "Preparation of measures in connection with the declaration of 2028 as the Year of Social Development and Quality of Life in the CIS," "Implementation of the Prospective Development Plan for Model Legislative Activities in the CIS for 2023–2025," "Statistical Measurement of Employment on Digital Platforms: Experience of CIS Countries," "CIS Base Organization of Member States for Methodological, Organizational and Technical Support in the Field of Labor Standards," and "Improvement of the Social Partnership System in CIS Member States," among other issues.
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