In February 2010, in order to strengthen social protection of pensioners in Azerbaijan, the President of Azerbaijan signed an order to improve the welfare of the population. So, he signed an executive order on indexing the insurance part of labor pensions.
In accordance with article 29.2 of Azerbaijan's Law on Labor Pensions, the President charged the State Social Protection Fund of Azerbaijan to, in accordance with the consumer price index from 2009 to January 1, 2010, to: ensure improving the insurance part of labor pensions of all types, as well as implement the indexation of the pension capital, recorded in the insurance part of personal accounts in the system of personal accounts. The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan was charged to address issues arising from this order.
The State Program on Social Protection of Unemployed and Disabled was approved in Azerbaijan. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved state programs to finance the activities of social security of disabled in 2010 and finance social activities on social provision of unemployed and first time job seekers in 2010.
State programs were approved under implementation of the budget of the State Social Protection Fund for 2010. The State Social Protection Fund's 2010 budget contains two million manat for social protection of disabled persons, 6.5 million manat for social protection of the unemployed.
According to the data provided by the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, in January-February 2010, the nominal income of the population totaled AZN 3201.0 million which is 4.3% more as compared to January 2009.
During this period, the nominal per capita income made up AZN 360.2, which exceeds the figure in 2009 by 3.1%. The rise in salaries in various spheres of economy and rise in social benefits also contributed to the growth in population income. However, despite the growing indicators, the growth rate of population's incomes has declined. Thus, in January-February 2009 the nominal income of the population compared to the same period of 2008 grew by 20.8 percent and per capita income - by 19.4 percent.
Major indices, characterizing money incomes of the population
|
Indices |
Actual figures in 2010 |
As compared to 2009 (%) |
|
Net money incomes of population, in mln manats. |
3201,0 |
104,3 |
|
Per capita population, in ths manats. |
360,2 |
103,1 |
|
Money incomes in hands, in mln manats. |
2846,9 |
104,6 |
|
Per capita population, in ths manats |
320,4 |
103,5 |
Source: State Statistics Committee
In January-February 2010, Azerbaijani citizens distributed their income in following way: 79.4% on purchase of goods and services, 11.1% - obligatory payment and fees, 7.7% - purchase of foreign currency and increase of savings.
Real community incomes after the payment of taxes and membership fees made up 2846.9mln manat, or 4.6% more than last year. Real per capita community income made up AZN 320.4 with rise of 3.5%.
Thus, during the reported period the money expenditure comprised AZN 2896.9mln or AZN 304.1mln less than the incomes of population, but 10% more than the expenses in 2009. (Source: State Statistics Committee, calculations by Trend)
Salary
The salary is one of the key social and economic indicators, which sufficiently enough characterizes the level of the prosperity of the working part of the population. Thus, the amount of average monthly salary in Azerbaijan in January-February 2010 comprised AZN 298.2 or 2.1% more than the same period of 2009, there is a decline in growth rates of salary as well. Thus, compared with 2008, in January-February 2009 the salary rose by 26.4 percent.
In spite of rise in salaries of various organizations, this indicator retains its differentiation across the country. The highest salary accounts for industry, finance, operations with real estate, rent and consumer services and construction sector.
Employees of enterprises and organizations received social benefits in amount of 11.1mln manat. Major beneficiaries were employees of the extractive industry, energy, gas and water producing and distributing enterprises, refining industry, transport and communications.
Labor market
As of March 1, 2010, the economically active people in Azerbaijan made up 4,333,200 with 4,073,200 involved in economy, including 1,376,100 people as hired workers.
Of them, 2.6% are involved in the extractive industry, 5.7% processing industry, 2.2% power engineering, 1.4% water supply and clean-up, 4.3% in construction, 2.8% in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 26.4% in education, 20.3% in wholesale and retail trade, repair of automobiles, home wares and personal things, 10.1% in health and social services, 5.6% in transport and communications, 4% in communal, social and personal services, 0.6% in operations with real estate and rent, 4.0% in state government and defense, and 0.8% in other spheres.
As of March 1, 2010 there were 41,000 unemployed people, with 43.8% women in Azerbaijan. In January-February 2010, the unemployment remained unchanged. Five people applied for one job in the country. The average unemployment benefit made up 173.8 manat. The unemployment benefit totaled 169.1 manat.