New Government Programme Will Create More and Better Jobs

2 August, 2007 : "The State Programme on the implementation of the National Employment Strategy for 2007-2010 outlines the measures the Government is planning to take in the field of employment creation in the coming years", announced the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population Mr. Fizuli Alakbarov opening the national conference to launch the Programme.

UNDP contributed support and advice to the Government's formulation of the National Employment Strategy by providing an international team of experts led by Dr. Michael Hopkins. The National Employment Strategy was officially approved in 2005, while in May 2007 the H.E. President Ilham Aliyev approved the State Programme for the implementation of the National Employment Strategy. Other international organizations like ILO, UNFPA and the World Bank also contributed to the preparation of the State Programme.

Speaking of the economic successes of the country, Minister Alakbarov referred to H.E. President Ilham Aliyev's announcement earlier in the week that Azerbaijan had 572,000 jobs in the last four years of which 405,000 jobs were permanent. According to the Minister, this demonstrates the commitment of the Government to increasing employment. He also stressed that creating jobs, especially in the non-oil sector, was the key to reducing poverty and improving living standards of the population.

The Minister stressed that the State Programme gives special significance to the development of Azerbaijan's human resources. To this end, Azerbaijan would learn from the experience of other countries. "All our activities should focus on human beings", he said.

"We need both more jobs and better quality jobs that allow people to improve their living standards and realise their full potential and the potential of the economy", said Mr. David Eizenberg, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. addressing the conference. "Most importantly, we need productive jobs that contribute to the competitiveness of the economy and increased job creation".

As Azerbaijan has one of the fastest growing populations in the CIS, the challenge will be to make sure that the number of new jobs increase even faster than is currently the case to keep up with the increasing number of young people looking for work, stressed the UNDP representative. Mr.Vahab Mamedov, National Coordinator of UNDP's joint project with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, made a presentation on the employment situation and the main elements of the State Programme. He stressed the decrease in the official rate of unemployment from 10.7% in 2003 to 6.8 % as of February 2007. According to him, land reforms implemented in the country contributed to the growth of employment in the agriculture.

Speaking of the State Programme, Mr. Mamedov noted that the State Programme recognises that it is the role of the private sector not the public sector to create jobs. Meanwhile the Government will help create the conditions for job creation by the private sector. Other major elements of the Strategy are supporting education and training; promoting labour rights, decent work and social protection for the unemployed, and strengthening labour market monitoring.

The conference participants commended the State Programme and noted that for the implementation to be successful it is important to secure concrete budget allocations for concrete activities, ensure that the jobs created are long-term ones and that there is good coordination within the Government and with the trade unions and employer organisations.


For more information:
Ms. Gyulshan Rzayeva,
UNDP Senior Development Adviser
Tel.: +99412 498 98 88 (ext.110)