During the meeting with the mission of the International Monetary Fund, discussions were held on the pension reforms implemented in our country and the recent developments in the labor market.

A presentation on the analysis of Azerbaijan’s labour market has been delivered.

A meeting was held at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population with a delegation led by Anna Bordon, Head of the International Monetary Fund’s mission to Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Anar Aliyev highlighted the achievements of the social reforms implemented in the country in recent years. It was noted that, as a result of five social reform packages carried out over the past seven years pursuant to the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, there have been substantial increases in social payments, including pensions.

It was further stated that, under a new Decree of the Head of State, pensions were indexed from the beginning of this year and increased by a further 9.3 percent, and that steps taken to introduce more humane approaches within the pension provision system were discussed. Attention was also drawn to the digital services established in recent years in the field of social protection, as well as to proactive assignment mechanisms.

Information was provided on development trends in the country’s labour market, the year-on-year upward dynamics in the number of employment contracts, the active employment programmes being implemented, and efforts to develop and approve occupational and qualification standards. The latest amendments to labour legislation, measures taken to expand women’s employment opportunities, and projects aimed at youth employment were also noted.

The meeting with the mission included an exchange of views on reforms in the pension provision sphere and the latest developments in the labour market.

Subsequently, in a meeting attended by Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Rashad Mustafayev, the IMF delegation delivered a presentation on the analysis of Azerbaijan’s labour market.