International Conference on “Towards Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Development and Decent Work” held in Baku with the participation of the ILO Director General

An international conference on the theme “Towards the Sustainable Development Goals: promotion of sustainable development and Decent Work” is held in cooperation with Labor and Social Protection Ministry of Azerbaijan,European Trade Unions Confederation (ETUC), Azerbaijan National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations(ASK) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The conference is attended by ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, high-level representatives of the ILO and other international organizations, governments, individual trade unions and employers’ organizations.

The realization of this event in Baku focused on the implementation of the 8th goal (decent work and economic development) of the UN Millennium Development Goals don 2016-2030 years for an active policy of expanding employment opportunities in the context of sustainable economic development in Azerbaijan.

The Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sahil Babayev, welcomed the guests and participants of the conference, noting that over the past decade progress in technical progress and social development have been made, but at the same time there are some current global problems, including 800 million people living below the poverty line etc. The Minister said that the UN Program on Sustainable Development represents a global political commitment addressing these problems.

S.Babayev noted achievements in the field of implementation of these goals and noted that these achievements are realistic manifestations of the successful state policy, which was laid by the great leader Heydar Aliyev and is currently being implemented by President Ilham Aliyev. He emphasized that based on the economic reforms carried out in our country, the welfare factor, the high level of human capital development, the decent labor, the elimination of informal employment and so forth. activities were implemented based on tripartism. Babayev said that cooperation with relevant international organizations is being arranged in the implementation of commitments arising from the UN Sustainable Development Agenda. The Minister also talked about ILO-rich political dialogue and practical cooperation agenda and highlighted the work done in the framework of joint activities.Babayev said that cooperation with relevant international organizations is being arranged in the implementation of commitments arising from the UN Sustainable Development Agenda. The Minister also mentioned ILO-rich political dialogue and practical cooperation agenda and highlighted the work done in the framework of joint activities.

Moreover, the minister said that Azerbaijan supports the initiative of ILO, andDirector General Guy Ryder`s visit in 2013 was as a new stage in the ILO’s relations with Azerbaijan.

Mr. Babayev expressed that the Baku International Exhibition Bureau is a candidate city for the World Exhibition to be held in 2025, and the issue “Building Human Capital, Building a Better Future”, defined for Baku Expo2025, is universal. The Minister added that the theme of the exhibition is covered by three subtexts that characterize human life: the future of health, the future of education and the future of work. The Minister also drew attention to the importance of organizing EXPO2025 in Baku, as well as the importance of realizing the goals of sustainable development. At the end of his speech, S.Babayev wished the participants fruitful discussions and successes.

Speaking at the plenary session of the conference on theme of “Desirable Future of Labor” Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Ahmadov highlighted the work carried out in our country in the implementation of obligations arising from the UN Day for Sustainable Development. A.Ahmadov emphasized that achievement of the 8th Sustainable Development Goal, is one of the main goals of the successful state policy pursued in Azerbaijan and achievement of decent work for full and productive employment, and important steps have been taken in this direction.

ILO Director General G. Ryder said that he visited Azerbaijan for the first time and was pleased to visit Bakuand attend this conference. Noting that our country has the right to be represented on the Executive Board of the ILO last year, Ryder expressed that the future is closer to what we think, and we must be ready for the future and understand the essence of the changes in the world, especially in the world of work. It turns out that these processes can lead to an increase or decrease in jobs. At the same time, there is a tendency to increase inequality on the background of the changes that are taking place. In this regard, the ILO Director-General stressed the importance of focusing on social justice, the protection of labor and social rights of workers and the ILO’s mission in the field of social justice. He stressed the relevance of sustainable development goals for today’s world and said that he supports the efforts made by Azerbaijan to realize these goals.

President of the Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs Confederation, Mammad Musayev, said that the poverty line in the country was reduced from 50 to 5.4% and the unemployment rate to about 5%. Over the past 15 years, salaries have grown 5 times on average, 8 per cent of pensions, and real incomes of the population by an average of 2.6 times. From this point of view, we think that there should be a more sensitive approach to regional conflicts, including the Karabakh issue, as well as humanitarian assistance to those who lost all their property and the place of residence because of wars.The most important issue is to ensure the return of refugees to their lands. To this end, these conflicts must be resolved fairly, and the world will be restored. We believe that the United Nations and the International Labor Organization bear a serious responsibility. Another reason for labor migration and refugees is the economic disparity between countries, different groups of the population. International organizations should also play a leading role in solving this problem. Within the framework of the United Nations sustainable development goals, it is necessary to invest in education and health in poorer countries and provide a minimum infrastructure for a normal life.M. Musayev added that over the past 15 years, 1.9 million new jobs were created, in which 1.4 million permanent residents live. During this period, income from entrepreneurial activity increased 10.4 times, incomes from labor activities – 7.5 times, in the state budget – 10.3 times. In 2017, the GDP amounted to 70.1 billion AZN, the added value was 7 million 205 AZN per person, the average monthly nominal salary of employees was 528.2 AZN. In our country, 75% of jobs are in private sector.

Chairman of the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Russia Mikhail Shmakov, President of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shekhin, Minister of Labor and Labor of the Republic of Uzbekistan SherzodKudbiyev, Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan FaizullaZakidiscussed this topic.

In the end, the presentation of Baku EXPO 2025 was conducted.

After the presentation, G.Ryder, S.Babayev, S.Mohbaliyev and M.Musayev held a press conference.