Azerbaijan chaired a conference of labor ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement within the 109th session of the ILO

A video conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Labor Ministers has started within the 109th session of the International Labor Organization. The event is attended by representatives of international organizations, more than 30 countries, including 18 ministers.

Speaking at the conference, the Minister of Labor and Social Protection Sahil Babayev thanked the participants for joining this important event dedicated to the promotion of sustainable development based on UN principles and the ILO concept of decent work.

The Minister said that Azerbaijan, which chairs the Non-Aligned Movement, has reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of Bandung in carrying out this important task. The Non-Aligned Movement confirms that new challenges are emerging in the world today. Millions of people around the world continue to be adversely affected from financial crises and environmental degradation, terrorism, international organized crime and extremism.

Babayev noted the devastating effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has infected more than 170 million people worldwide and killed more than 3.5 million people. He said Azerbaijan continued its efforts to mobilize global action against the pandemic. The minister stressed the success of the Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group Summit in May 2020. At the same time, he noted that the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, with the initiative of Azerbaijan as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, adopted a resolution entitled "Ensuring equal, affordable, timely and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines."

The Minister spoke about the important role of the Non-Aligned Movement in strengthening international peace and security and expanding cooperation. He noted the steps taken by the Azerbaijani government to combat the pandemic. He said that the work done to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the economy, to ensure macroeconomic and financial stability, presented a comprehensive socio-economic package worth 3.5 billion manat, covering almost half of the population. He noted that 2.4 million vaccines have been used in the country so far as part of the vaccination campaign launched in January this year.

Babayev noted the important measures taken to further improve the investment and business environment in Azerbaijan against the background of economic processes, expand entrepreneurial opportunities, strengthen support for local business, and social reforms. He informed about the DOST centers created to provide social services from a single platform in a transparent and efficient manner. He stressed that the transition to the mechanism of automatic appointment of pensions for the first time in our country is an achievement that contributes to improving the quality and modernization of social services. He said special attention was paid to the prevention of informal employment, skills development in the labor market, ensuring employment and gender equality, and the development of self-employment.

He noted that in response to Armenia's military provocation, on September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani Army carried out counter-offensive operations, liberated the occupied territories of our country and won a great victory in the 44-day battle. Complete reconstruction and rehabilitation work has begun in the liberated areas, providing all the necessary human and financial resources. One of the main goals of Azerbaijan is to quickly restore the liberated territories of our country on the basis of smart and green technologies and to integrate them into the country's economy.

Discussions were held with the participation of the leaders of the relevant bodies of the Non-Aligned Movement.

At the end of the conference, the Declaration of the Non-Aligned Movement Labor Ministers will be adopted.