TO MEMBERS OF TRADE UNIONS OF AZERBAIJAN
This year, trade unions, the largest mass organizations in Azerbaijan celebrate their centenary, and their central body turns 85. Rich in traditions, the Trade Union movement Azerbaijan has passed a number of stages in its history. Starting with establishment of the first trade union of workers and employees in October 1905 in Baku, the movement, a short time later, covered industrial, transport and services sectors. In this period, the trade unions became real defender of the labor rights, achieving significant accomplishments in improvement of working conditions and settlement of social and household problems. Indeed, both in the years of Russian Empire and Azerbaijan People’s Republic, there were political forces, which purposing their own aims, had ideological impact on the trade unions, made them active participants of political struggle.
During the Soviet period, the trade unions, in fact, were one of the important components of political-ideological and management system. In all the construction and enlightenment fields in the country, the trade unions took active part, and more often were the major organizer and doer of these actions. In that period, elimination of illiteracy, organization of cultural-enlightening actions, settlement of the household-social problems of workers and employees were directly connected with the activity of trade unions. Labor protection in enterprises and organizations, social rights protection, creation of resorts, broad network of sport complexes and cultural centers to serve the toiler were significant spheres of trade unions’ activities.
After Azerbaijan gained state independence, trade unions reached a new stage and their activity has acquired a new matter. Return of national leader Heydar Aliyev to power in Azerbaijan in 1993 secured the trade unions from impact of numerous political forces, prevented their created-in-decades material basis from devastation. Management and the influence of the ideological factors over the trade unions and the command-administrative methods were abolished. And in 1993, the Azerbaijan Confederation of Trade Unions acting in accordance with the principles of democratic management was created. The Law of the Azerbaijan Republic “On Trade Unions” adopted in 1994, once again substantiated the independence of trade unions, and thus, established necessary legal basis for them to act only in the framework of and law and statute.
Under the conditions of strict rules of market economy, the trade unions of independent Azerbaijan make their contributions to provision of social, cultural, educational and healthcare rights of laborers, establishment of cohesion and consensus among different groups of society, taking care of vulnerable sections and settlement of other questions. Simultaneously, the Azerbaijan Confederation of Trade Unions propagandizes the spirit of constructivism in society, plays great role in regulation of the links between the employers and employees. The General Collective Treaty annually signed among the Government, National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations and the Trade Unions Confederation follows this goal and observation of its requirements is the duty of signers. Today, we confidently can say the trade unions play active role in observation of labor contracts in the enterprises and institutions, protection of the social rights of workers, in improvement of their working conditions.
Over the last years, investment inflow in Azerbaijan’s economy has dynamically increased. A lot of local and foreign enterprises, transnational companies are functioning in the country. Today, the trade unions have to settle significant tasks to achieve protection of social rights of the citizens working in those organizations, observation of labor legislation and terms of contracts.
It is with great pleasure to note that the Azerbaijan trade unions, having established active and efficient links with the relevant international organizations, acquires progressive foreign practice, successfully applying their advanced experience in the field of labor organizing and problems solving. Admission of the Azerbaijan Confederation of Trade Unions to the International Labor Organization and International Confederation of Free Trade Unions is the logical outcome of the international image it has won.
Dear members of trade unions, I believe that as one of the basic democratic institutions of the independent Azerbaijan Republic, the trade unions will further continue its generous activity courageously protecting labor rights of the citizens, promoting improvement of social welfare, and successfully perform their duties. I congratulate members of the Azerbaijan Confederation of Trade Unions and the organizations it includes, the veterans of trade union movement, all the laborers on this landmark date, wish them health, and success for welfare of our people and progress of our independent state.
Ilham Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, November 24, 2005
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