Azerbaijan plans to differentiate minimum wage

Azerbaijan plans to help workers by bringing in a minimum wage depending on the sectors of the economy, Azerbaijani Labor and Social Protection Minister Fizuli Alekperov told journalists.

He said work is underway on developing the second phase of the state programme to ensure decent work standards.

Mr. Alekperov said: "We implemented the first phase of this programme from 2007 to 2010, where we made a lot of changes in labour legislation, which is one of the great achievements."

Under the first phase, work was done to raise professional standards in Azerbaijan.

Based on the draft state budget for 2012 and the next three years submitted to the Azerbaijani parliament for consideration, the minimum wage in 2012 will be increased to 93.5 manat from 85 manat in 2010 and 2011. In 2013, this figure is projected to increase to 120.2 manat, in 2014 - up to 127.7 manat and in 2015 - up to 140 manat.

The minimum wage system is used mainly in European countries although not set in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Denmark and Ireland. The value of the minimum wage is fixed at the level of individual industries, often at the conclusion of sectorial collective agreements between unions and employers.


/Trend/