Social sector in Azerbaijan (January-April 2014)

A number of decrees signed by the Azerbaijani president have entered into force since April 2014. So, some 14,620 disabled of the first group have received presidential allowance in Azerbaijan since April 1. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the "Allowance of the Azerbaijani president for disabled of the group I receiving social benefits in connection with common disease, disease obtained during the military service, work-related injury and occupational disease during the military operations on Chernobyl accident". According to the decree, the allowance is set at 60 manat. Besides benefits in the amount of 67 manat, the disabled people will also receive 60 manat monthly. It exceeds the minimum subsistence level, set in 2014 in the amount of 125 manat. Some 10.5 million manat will be spent during the year.

According to the second presidential decree, some 11,821 disabled war veterans get presidential allowance for participation in hostilities for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The number of persons with disabilities of the first group is 871 people. The level of their monthly allowance increased from 110 manat to 150 manat, disabled of the second group (8,905 people) - from 85 manat to 130 manat and disabled of the third group (2,045 people) - from 60 manat to 100 manat. For this purpose, some 6.2 million manat will be spent from the state budget within one year.

According to the third presidential decree, the pension amount has been increased from 37 manat to 45 manat for war veterans who are not entitled to receive pensions since April 1. This decree will affect 53,545 people. Some 50,077 people of them are war veterans who were fighting for the territorial integrity of the republic. Some 5.2 million manat will be spent for this purpose during the year.

Population's income

According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, the nominal income of the population totaled 12.096.8 billion manat in January-April 2014, which is 4.6 percent more compared to January-April 2013.

Thus, during this period, the nominal income of the population per capita increased by 3.3 percent and hit 1.290.7 manat.

Major indices, characterizing income of the population

Source: State Statistics Committee

The population's income after paying all required fees and membership fees made up 11 billion manat, which is 5 percent more than in the same period of 2013. Real income per capita increased by 3.6 percent to 1.178.2 manat.

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. According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, the hired employees' average monthly salary in Azerbaijan in January-March 2014 comprised 434.3 manat compared to 423 manat as of 2013.

The real average salary increased by 4.6 percent in Azerbaijan in January-March 2014 taking into account a two percent inflation per annum. By February 2014 it increased by 1.6 percent in March (taking into account a 0.3 percent inflation per month).

As of April 2014, the average salary of temporary staff was 268.8 manat, while employees involved upon civil contracts - 295.3 manat.

Remuneration in the oil sector reached 1.759.5 manat per month, the non-oil sector - 401.4 manat, the public sector - 351.5 manat, the private sector - 558.7 manat.

The highest salary was observed in the mining industry, financial, information and communication, scientific and technical activity, as well as the construction sectors.

Labor market

As of early May 2014, the economically active population totaled 4.775 million people, of which 4.538.4 million people were engaged in labour activity.

Thus, as of April 1, 2014, the number of hired employees hit 1.510.4 million people, including 900,700 people worked in the public sector, and 609,700 people - in private sector.

The number of people working in the oil sector amounted to 37,100 people, in the non-oil sector - 1.473.3 million people. Around 1.467.3 million people among hired employees work in non-agricultural sphere.

Around 22.8 percent fall to the hired employees involved in the production spheres: 7 percent in construction, 6.6 percent in manufacturing industry, 2.9 percent in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 2.5 percent - in the mining industry, 2.1 percent - in the production and distribution of electricity, gas and steam, 1.7 percent - in water supply, waste recycling, 22.4 percent in education, 18.7 percent - trade, repair of vehicles, 8.6 percent - medical and social services, 6.6 percent in state governance and defense, social maintenance, 5.1 percent - transportation and warehousing, 3.7 percent - recreation, entertainment and arts, 3.6 percent - professional, scientific and technical activities, 1.9 percent - financial and insurance activities, 0.8 percent - real estate transactions, 1.6 percent - administrative and additional services, 1.4 percent - tourist accommodation and food and 1.1 percent - other areas, 1.7 percent - communication and information.

As of May 1, 2014, around 36,800 people were officially registered as unemployed in Azerbaijan, including 40.9 percent of women. Thus, the number of unemployed decreased by 1.87 percent in January-April 2013 and hit 37,500 people compared to the same period of 2013.

As of May 1, 2014, the largest number of unemployed was registered in 12 administrative districts of Baku (13,726 people, of which 716 people received unemployment benefits) and eighteen regions of Aran economic region (10,071 and 385 people respectively).

According to the report, the average unemployment benefit in Azerbaijan is 247.8 manat. The amount of benefits decreased by 0.3 percent for the year.

Distribution of unemployed individuals and those who receive unemployment benefit in towns and regions as of May 1, 2014 (people)

The Azerbaijani government continues taking measures to increase the employment level. The State Employment Service under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare holds job fairs for the unemployed in the regions of the country. The first job fair was held in Shamkir region. Some 24 organizations presented 179 vacancies, while 130 people got assignment to jobs. The mobile labor exchanges are also operating for citizens wishing to obtain temporary jobs.

Another job fair was held in Ismayilli region. More than 200 jobs were presented by 90 agencies, enterprises and organizations operating in the region. The citizens willing to find jobs were proposed to attend the training courses and paid public work in accordance with the requirements of the existing labor market.

The share of the service sector in the structure of employment increased by almost three percent in Azerbaijan for the past 10 years. For example, about 73 percent of people working in the service sector in Europe. The ratio of manufacturing industries and the service sector in employment is about 51 to 49 percent in such countries as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

The State Labour Inspection Service under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Labour and Social Protection ensured concluding the employment contracts with 562 employees of different companies in the country in April 2014.

During this period employers and labor unions signed 28 collective agreements defining additional conditions on labor relations.

The earlier delayed social payments in the amount of 10,946 manat, including wages - 9,129 manat, for harmful working conditions - 612 manat, and social benefits and compensation in the amount of 1,205 manat were made during this period.

Social maintenance

The social care workers of district (city) of the social welfare centers under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population render social welfare services to 13,331 lonely senior citizens and people with disabilities in Azerbaijan. Some 8,245 of them live in cities and settlements, the rest - in the villages.

Most of these citizens are older 70. Some 12 people fall to one social care worker in cities, settlements and district centers, while eight people in the countryside. Social care workers visit them at least twice a week and help to clean the house, buy the necessary products, household items, etc.

It should be stressed that the services are rendered to 70-year-old people and those without children, as well as the disabled people of I and II groups in need of assistance, provided that they do not have infectious and mental diseases.

The work is underway to provide the people disabled during Karabakh war and 20 January tragedy in accordance with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's decree as of December 23, 2013.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare provided 675 people disabled in Karabakh war and 20 January tragedy with Naz-Lifan cars in April.

Some 4,206 disabled people received cars.