The Republic of Azerbaijan and International Labour Organization (ILO)
The main international body that the Republic of Azerbaijan cooperates in the labour sphere is the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The ILO was established in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I. The main objective of the establishment was to reflect the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on social justice. The Constitution was drafted between January and April, 1919, by the Labour Commission set up by the Peace Conference, which first met in Paris and then in Versailles. In 1946, the ILO became a specialized agency of the newly formed United Nations. The ILO has 185 member-states. Since October 1st 2012 the Director-General of the ILO is G.Ryder from Great Britain.
The ILO is the international organization responsible for drawing up and overseeing international labour standards. It is the only 'tripartite' United Nations agency that brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies and programmes promoting “Decent work for all”. This unique arrangement gives the ILO an edge in incorporating 'real world' knowledge about employment and work.
The ILO accomplishes its work through three main bodies (The International Labour Conference, the Governing body and the Office (carrying out the functions of Secretariat)) which comprise governments', employers' and workers' representatives. Besides, there are ILO Regional Offices for Africa, for Latin Americas and the Caribbean, for Arab States, for Asia and the Pacific, and Europe and Central Asia.
The Republic of Azerbaijan is a full member of ILO since May 1992.
During the past period there was established active cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and ILO that were accompanied with the factors as labour, labour relations, employment, safety and protection of employment, expansion of the cooperation in the area of improvement the legislation. The delegations of the relevant governmental bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan are participating in the meetings within the framework of the ILO as well as in the meetings, seminars, trainings, conferences, and other events related to labour, employment, safety and protection of labour, social protection of population that is held in various countries during the year. At the same time, there were official visits of ILO representatives to the Republic of Azerbaijan in different years.
As a result of effective cooperation of Republic of Azerbaijan with ILO, the local office of ILO was opened in Azerbaijan in 2002. Azerbaijan became a party to more than 50 Conventions of ILO during the past period, and as a result the national labour legislation has been adapted to the most progressive international standards. The labour legislation is being improved constantly. The Government reports prepared about the implementation of ILO Conventions in the country are presented on a regular basis to the ILO headquarters located in Geneva. This cooperation contributes to the implementation of joint projects in labour, employment, labour migration, and social protection, rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and other sectors and to the development of those areas in the country.
A number of international events were held in the Republic of Azerbaijan as a result of close cooperation with the ILO. Due to the presidency to the Regional Alliance of Labour Inspections, the 3rd Conference of the Regional Alliance of Labour Inspections was held on 18-19 November 2010 in Baku. The Conference was organized with the support of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the International Association of Labour Inspections, ILO and World Bank. The issues such as secure and safe work conditions, the protection of labour rights of workers’, the implementation of legislation and international standards, and increasing the activity of social partners’ were discussed during the Conference that lasted two days.
The International Conference “The management system of labour security and health: sustainable improvement methods” dedicated to the World Labour Protection Day was held with the support of ILO and World Bank “Project of the development of social protection” on 26 April 2011 in Baku. The presentations regarding the establishment of State Labour Inspection Service, the effective cooperation with the EU member-states on the specific components of the World Bank project with a view to improve labour inspection in Azerbaijan, as well as launching of Twining project aimed at strengthening of labour safety were demonstrated in the Conference.
The 101st session of the International Labour Conference was held on 30 May-14 June 2012, in Geneva. The Republic of Azerbaijan was represented in the session with the tripartite delegation headed by the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population. The delegation included the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to United Nations Office and other International Organizations at Geneva, the President of the National Confederation of Employer’s Organizations, the Head of Trade-Unions Confederations and other state officials as well. During the Conference the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan held meetings with Mr.G.Ryder, the newly appointed Director-General of ILO, and with Mr.K.Fannizadeh, Director of the Programme for the Promotion of the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
The next session of the International Labour Conference was held on 5-20 June 2013, in Geneva. The Republic of Azerbaijan was represented in the session with the tripartite delegation headed by the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population. The delegation included the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to United Nations Office and other International Organizations at Geneva, the President of the National Confederation of Employer’s Organizations, the Head of Trade-Unions Confederations and other state officials as well. During the Conference the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population delivered a comprehensive speech on the activities done in the spheres of labour and social protection of population in Azerbaijan.
Moreover, during the year 2013 the following important meetings were held within ILO and the delegations of Azerbaijan were attended respectively: 9th European Regional Meeting – 8-11 April Oslo; Global Dialogue Forum aimed at promoting ILO Convention №188 – 15-17 May 2013; Workshop on the national implementation of Maritime Labour Convention – 17-21 June 2013, Turin; 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians – 2-11 October 2013; III Global Conference on Child Labour – 8-10 October 2013, Recife; Meeting of Experts on Policy Guidelines on the Promotion of Decent Work for Early Childhood Education Personnel – 12-15 November 2013 and Global Dialogue Forum on Initiatives to Promote Decent and Productive Work in the Chemical Industry – 26-28 November 2013.
103rd session of the International Labour Conference was held on 28 May - 12 June 2014, in Geneva. The Republic of Azerbaijan was represented in the session with the tripartite delegation headed by the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population. The delegation included the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to United Nations Office and other International Organizations at Geneva, the President of the National Confederation of Employer’s Organizations, the Head of Trade-Unions Confederations and other state officials as well. During the Conference the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population delivered a comprehensive speech on the activities done in the spheres of labour and social protection of population in Azerbaijan.
