GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY DISCUSS VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW IN LABOR RELATIONS

Posted by: admin | Posted on: Апрель 23, 2013

Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), organized a roundtable to discuss Violations of Law in Labor Relations. The roundtable was one in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan to facilitate dialogue between the government institutions and NGOs on increasing transparency and accountability. Representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the State Anti-Corruption Commission, the Prosecutor General’s Anti-Corruption Department, as well as local and international NGO representatives participated in the roundtable.
Participants agreed that despite Government of Azerbaijan efforts to ensure labor safety, define relations, rights and responsibilities of employees and employers, punish perpetuators of labor law and bring the domestic legislation in line with international standards, a number of challenges in this area remain. Roundtable participants identified and discussed current deficiencies in efforts to minimize opportunities for corrupt practices in labor relations, and proposed ways to increase transparency and accountability in this area.
Tahir Musayev, Head of the State Labour Inspection Service’s Supervisory Department for Social and Legal Issues told participants about efforts undertaken to protect employees’ labor rights in Azerbaijan. Sahib Mammadov, Chairman of the Citizens Labor Rights Protection League, discussed Azerbaijan’s experience with dispute resolution of individual labor disputes. Sevgim Rahmanov, Head of Traders and Producers’ Union, discussed how to reduce small entrepreneurs’ labor law violation. Rena Safaraliyeva, Executive Director of Transparency Azerbaijan made general recommendations to prevent violations of the law in labor relations.
Participants praised the exchange of views between government and civil society that took place at the roundtable. They also decided to deliver to the Ministry written recommendations from civil society organizations on improving transparency and accountability in the area of labor relations. Participants also addressed the media at the end of the event.