39th Meeting of the CIS Advisory Council Held in Baku
Chairmanship of the Advisory Council has been transferred from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan.
The 39th meeting of the Advisory Council on Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Population of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has commenced in Baku.
Speaking at the meeting, Anar Aliyev, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan, noted that the Council’s activities are important not only for exchanging existing practices but also for discussing future directions in labor and socio-economic policy, 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 and 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 (USD 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 year, the coverage of active employment measures implemented by employment agencies has doubled. The number of people placed in jobs has increased 3.6 times, the number of participants in the self-employment programme has risen 2.7 times, participation in vocational training has increased 7.1 times, and the number of people receiving career guidance services has grown threefold. The average monthly unemployment insurance benefit has also increased 1.4 times.
It was further noted that during the period under review, 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 total wage fund by 3.4 times. The minimum and average monthly pensions increased approximately threefold, social benefits and pension payments fivefold, and the average monthly amount of targeted state social assistance 2.5 times.
The Minister also highlighted measures taken to improve legislation in the fields of labor and social protection, noting that the digitalization of services in these areas has entered a broader phase of digital transformation.
It was emphasized that the DOST Agency and DOST centers were established on the initiative of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva. The centers enable public social services to be delivered through a “one-stop shop” in a transparent, efficient manner focused on citizen satisfaction. More than 90% of the Ministry’s services have been digitized. 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 the meeting would make an important contribution to the further development of the Council’s activities.
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 Nurlan Seitimov, Deputy Secretary General of the CIS.
The chairmanship of the Advisory Council was transferred from the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Azerbaijan. Marat Jurayev, First Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan, reported on the results achieved during his country’s chairmanship and on the implementation of 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 were presented with awards in recognition of Uzbekistan’s contribution to cooperation in the labor and social sectors across the CIS during its chairmanship of the Advisory Council.
Rashad Mustafayev, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan; Marina Artemenko, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Belarus; Bakhtiyar Jazykpayev, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan; Aida Isatbai kyzy, Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan; Olga Batalina, First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation; Nasim Karimzoda, First Deputy Minister of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population of Tajikistan; Gurban Gurbanov, Head of the International Relations Department of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population; and Marat Jurayev, First Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction of Uzbekistan, delivered speeches on the current situation in the labor and social sectors in their respective countries and the measures being implemented.
The meeting also featured presentations on the development of digital services in the fields of labor, employment and social protection in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
Presentations and discussions covered 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 CIS Prospective Development Plan for Model Legislative Activities for 2023–2025”; “Statistical Measurement of Employment on Digital Platforms: Experience of CIS Countries”; “The CIS Basic Organization for Methodological, Organizational and Technical Support in the Field of Labor Standards”; and “Improving Social Partnership Systems in CIS Member States.”
