Azerbaijan takes over chairmanship of CIS Advisory Council

Azerbaijan has taken over from Uzbekistan as chair of the Advisory Council on Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Population of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

TodayPress TV reports that the announcement was made at the Council’s 39th meeting held in Baku.

In his address, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Anar Aliyev said the Council’s work was important not only for exchanging best practices but also for discussing future directions in labour and socio-economic policy, developing innovative approaches and identifying opportunities for practical cooperation.

He provided information on reforms implemented in Azerbaijan in recent years in the areas of labour, employment and social protection under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. The minister noted that five social reform packages covering 4 million people had been implemented in Azerbaijan between 2018 and 2026. An additional 8 billion manats, equivalent to approximately $4.7 billion, is allocated annually for these reforms. Preparations have already begun for the implementation of a sixth social reform package next year.

Compared with the previous period, the coverage of active employment measures implemented by employment agencies has doubled. The number of people placed in jobs has increased 3.6-fold, participation in self-employment programmes has risen 2.7-fold, enrolment in vocational training has grown 7.1-fold, and the number of people receiving career guidance services has tripled. The average monthly unemployment insurance payment has also increased 1.4-fold.

During the same period, the number of employment contracts increased by 44%, the minimum wage rose 3.1-fold, the average monthly wage increased 2.1-fold, and the total wage fund grew 3.4-fold. Minimum and average monthly pensions nearly tripled, social benefit and allowance payments increased fivefold, and the average monthly amount of targeted state social assistance rose 2.5-fold.

The minister also highlighted measures to improve labour and social protection legislation, noting that the digitalisation of services in these areas has entered a broader phase of digital transformation.

The establishment of the DOST Agency and DOST centres at the initiative of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva was also highlighted. These centres enable public social services to be delivered through a “one-stop shop” system in a transparent, efficient and citizen-oriented manner. More than 90% of the ministry’s services have been digitised. Social reforms implemented in Azerbaijan in recent years have received more than 300 international awards and certificates, including the United Nations Public Service Award.

Anar Aliyev expressed confidence that the discussions and exchange of views at the Council’s meeting would make an important contribution to the further development of its work.

Olga Kremskaya, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Advisory Council and adviser to the CIS Executive Committee’s Department for Cooperation in Political, Humanitarian and Social Affairs, delivered the opening remarks of CIS Deputy Secretary-General Nurlan Seitimov.

The chairmanship of the Advisory Council was formally transferred from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan. Marat Jurayev, First Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan, presented the results achieved during his country’s chairmanship and outlined progress in implementing the decisions adopted at the Council’s 38th meeting.

On behalf of CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev, representatives of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction received awards in recognition of their country’s contribution to labour and social cooperation across the CIS during its chairmanship of the Council.

Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Rashad Mustafayev; Belarusian Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection Marina Artemenko; Kazakh Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Bakhtiyar Zhazykpayev; Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration Aida Isatbek kyzy; Russian First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection Olga Batalina; Tajik First Deputy Minister of Labour, Migration and Employment of the Population Nasim Karimzoda; Head of the International Relations Department at Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Gurbanguly Gurbanov; and Uzbekistan’s First Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction Marat Jurayev delivered reports on the current labour and social situation in their respective countries and the measures being implemented.

The meeting also included presentations on the development of digital services in labour, employment and social protection in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Participants discussed a range of topics, including preparations for events marking 2028 as the Year of Social Development and Quality of Life in the CIS; implementation of the 2023–2025 CIS Model Legislative Activity Prospective Development Plan; statistical measurement of employment on digital platforms and the experience of CIS countries; the CIS basic organisation responsible for methodological, organisational and technical support in establishing labour standards; and improvements to social partnership systems in CIS member states.