OSCE Office organizes labour rights seminar in Azerbaijan

BAKU, 3 April 2007 - Promoting professional relations between employers and employees and raising awareness of labour rights are the focus of a seminar that started in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan today.

The event, organized by the OSCE Office in Baku and the Federation of Trade Unions, brought together some 30 participants from different sectors of the economy. They will discuss the rights and duties of both employers and employees in accordance with the country's labour legislation, the State Programme on Decent Work and obligations deriving from the relevant conventions of the International Labour Organization and the European Social Charter.

"With the economy of Azerbaijan booming, the issue of relations between employees and employers becomes more important and topical," said Andreas Busch of the OSCE Office. "This seminar specifically addresses key areas which require improvement as outlined in the State Programme on Ensuring Decent Work."

Jamaladdin Ismaylov, the vice-president of the Federation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan, added: "Problems in the relations between the employers and employees mostly derive from the failure to conclude labour contracts. This leads to violations of the worker's rights to leave, adequate working conditions and fixed working hours. We hope that such seminars will help ensure the social protection of employees and improve employer-employee relations."