Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Trade unions, which have been created to grant employees equal bargaining power with their employers, nowadays play an indispensable role in the countries around the world in protection of workers’ rights.

The trade union movement in Azerbaijan also has a long history and is an important instrument in ensuring consent between the employers and employees.

The 110th anniversary of Azerbaijan Trade Unions which unites 1.6 million people has been solemnly marked with participation of the state and public figures In Baku this week.

Azerbaijani President`s Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov, state and government officials, representatives of international trade unions, senior officials representing trade unions of foreign countries participated in the event that took place on November 25.

Chairman of Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation, Vice-President of the International Trade Unions Confederations, MP Sattar Mehbaliyev highlighted the history of trade unions in Azerbaijan.

Addressing the event Hasanov said trade union movement in Azerbaijan covers all types of activities and acts an authoritative and effective institution in the protection of workers’ rights.

Trade union organizations in Azerbaijan were established in the late XIX – early XX centuries, at a time when socio-political and economic processes, as well as the issue of solving the people’s social problems became pressing in the industrial centers of Russia.

The trade unions movement first spread from Europe to Russia, and then to Azerbaijan, and gradually covered all spheres of life. These organizations did not only work for solution of social and economic problems of workers, but also became the locomotive of political developments in the country in early 20th century, putting forward political demands before state-run agencies and entrepreneurs.

After Azerbaijan gained independence in early 1990s a new stage started in the activity of the trade unions.

The ongoing development and progress soon became apparent in the operation of trade unions.

During the presidency of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijan, a serious landmark appeared in the operation of the trade unions, as this institution began fulfilling its public function.

Guiding the democratic principles the trade unions in fact turned into a self-governance system that was able to solve the disputes between the workers and employers within enterprises.

Hasanov noted that after gaining independence, the new stage of the trade union movement started in Azerbaijan and the activities of trade unions acquired new content.

“National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who returned to power in 1993, has always paid great attention to trade union organizations, and their development,” Hasanov underlined.

He added that the great leader was protecting the trade union movement from the pressure of various political forces, prevented the destruction of its logistics created over many years.

Currently, National Trade Unions Confederation includes numerous committees and federations of trade unions, covering such activities as the economy, culture, education, healthcare, public service and other areas.

“The Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation is taking sustained actions on social partnership, social security, labor protection, protection of labor rights,” Hasanov said.

He further noted that Azerbaijan has become a dynamically developing country, with a strong economy, thanks to President Ilham Aliyev’s purposeful and independent policy.

As a result of continuation of liberal economic reforms, promotion of investments, implementation of targeted state programs in the past ten years, Azerbaijan has achieved economic growth by more than three times, unemployment and poverty fell to five percent, as well as the social and economic infrastructure was rebuilt, and the people’s welfare improved drastically.

Noting that thousands of production enterprises, 1.4 million new jobs have been created in Azerbaijan since 2003, Hasanov said the major part of the new jobs was created in the private sector.

“I believe that taking into account all these realities, Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation should continue the cohesive and purposeful measures on improving the working conditions of citizens, resolving their social problems and ensuring their labor rights,” the top official underlined.

Hasanov pointed out that the Trade Unions Confederation should also increase its attention to cooperation with transnational companies operating in Azerbaijan, profoundly study and use the best world practice in organization of labor and resolving social problems.

Representatives of foreign trade unions centers hailed the activities of Azerbaijani trade unions.

Active members of Azerbaijani Trade Unions received orders, medals and honorary titles in accordance with relevant presidential decrees.

The participants adopted an Appeal to the President of Azerbaijan.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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