On December 20, an extraordinary VI Congress of the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation (ATUC) was held.
Before the Congress, the ATUC leadership and chairmen of member organizations paid tribute to the memory of great leader Heydar Aliyev in the alley of Honor and laid wreaths and flowers in front of his grave.
The memory of prominent ophthalmologist-scientist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva was also commemorated, and flowers were laid on her grave. Bunches of flowers were placed on the graves of prominent statesman Aziz Aliyev and well-known doctor-scientist Tamerlan Aliyev.
Then the extraordinary 6th Congress of ATUC started in Baku Congress Center.
Chairman of ATUC, Vice President of International Trade Union Confederation, Pan European Regional Council, Confederation of General Trade Unions and Organization of Turkish States Trade Unions, MP of Milli Majlis Sattar Mohbaliyev welcomed the participants and declared the Congress open.
Then the National Anthem was played, and the dear memory of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and our martyrs was commemorated with a minute’s silence.
In accordance with the regulations, the composition of the Mandate, Editorial and Accounting commissions of the Congress and the members of the Secretariat were selected and approved daily.
The agenda of the congress included the issues of “Supporting Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev’s candidacy for the presidency of Azerbaijan”, “On the Statement of the ATUC”, “Activities of the ATUC for the years 2018-2023”, “Report of the Audit Commission” and “Election of the Chairman of the ATUC” .
After listening to the mandate commission’s report, the first issue put on the agenda – “Supporting the candidacy of Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev for the presidency of Azerbaijan” was addressed by the chairman of ATUC, Sattar Mohbaliyev.
He said that the main task before the trade unions is to protect the socio-economic rights and legal interests of the workers and to protect their interests. And the effective implementation of these works is closely related to the stability of the country and the representation of democratic and professional forces in the government: “When the Confederation was created, most of us know what pressures the ruling forces put on us and what illegal steps were taken.
“I am sure that in the extraordinary presidential elections to be held on February 7, 2024, as always, democracy will triumph, because the Azerbaijani society is civilized and perfect, and our citizens have a high political culture. Our people will vote for progress and development while preserving their unshakable unity and solidarity, and will keep power in tried and trusted hands,” said Sattar Mohbaliyev, talking about the economic success of our country in the last 20 years and citing statistical figures: “310 billion dollars have been invested in the country’s economy. The poverty rate has decreased to 5.5 percent. Annual social protection expenses of the state budget are more than 20 times, minimum wage 38 times, average monthly wage 12 times, minimum pension 14 times, average monthly pension 18 times, average monthly pension by age 19 times, pension by disability 14 times, by losing the head of the family pension has increased 19 times. The annual funds paid for pension increased 30 times to 6 billion manats, and the average amount of targeted social assistance increased 11 times.
According to him, the Patriotic War ended with victory as a result of the determination of Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the unity of the people and the strength of our army: “as a true commander, he ensured the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. At present, our holy flag flaunts majestically in our ancient and Eternal Lands – in our zealous fortress Shusha, in our honor Crown Khojaly, in Hadrut, in Khankendi, in Agdara. At present, the construction works carried out in East Zangezur and Karabakh are successfully continuing. Our homelands are being rebuilt and the former IDPs are returning to their native lands almost every day.”
Continuing his opinion, Sattar Mohbaliyev noted the great support of President Ilham Aliyev in the achievements and development of trade unions in the past 20 years: “Comprehensive development of Azerbaijan also means the progress of trade unions. Due to all these services, President Ilham Aliyev has won the deep respect and love of every union member. Therefore, 1.5 million trade union members united in the Confederation unanimously support the candidacy of Mr. Ilham Aliyev for the presidency of the country, who ensured the integrity of our Motherland in the presidential elections and made our country one of the leading states, and declare that they will vote for him in the elections. We see the bright future of our people, the successful continuation of the development strategy of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in the leadership of Mr. Ilham Aliyev to our country.”
Then the chairmen of the member organizations of ATUC noted the wise leadership of Mr. Ilham Aliyev to our country and expressed the need to support his candidacy.
The draft decision was voted on and adopted unanimously, and the Declaration of the ATUC regarding the support of Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev’s candidacy in the early presidential elections was read.
Speaking about the “Activities of the Union of Trade Unions for 2018-2023” on the agenda, the Chairman of the Union of Trade Unions, Sattar Mohbaliyev, said that in 2018-2023, 154,658,000 manats were spent on the organization of treatment and recreation of trade union members, and 391 836 people received treatment and had a rest: “In 2015, the honorary title of “Young Professional of the Year” was established by ATUC, and so far, about 400 young people from 27 trade union organizations have been awarded this honorary title, having achieved special achievements in work, education and social activities. . At the same time, 700 students were given scholarships worth 300,000 manats, and the tuition fees of 180 students were paid. In addition, the food expenses of 230 students are paid every year.
“Over the past 5 years, a number of measures have been implemented together with international organizations, state institutions and non-governmental organizations to solve gender issues. During the pandemic, up to 20 million manats were spent to support the fight against the coronavirus and at the same time measures implemented by the state. During the Patriotic War and its aftermath, the member organizations, including the Confederation, and the trade union organizations serving them, with the decisions made, allocated 1,041,890 manats to the aid fund for the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, 2,329,954 manats to the Armed Forces and the frontline, and 4,700,000 manats to the families of martyrs and veterans. Also, more than 4,000 families of martyrs and persons disabled during the defense of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan were provided sanatorium spa treatment. In addition, 51,915 martyrs, veterans and low-income families were sent food aid worth 4,840,000 manats, and a total of 1,921,046 manats were transferred to the accounts of the “Yashat” and “Revival” funds,” Sattar Mohbaliyev added.
According to him, they are among the officials of the International Trade Union Confederation, the Pan European Regional Council, the Confederation of All Trade Unions and the newly created Turkish States Trade Union Organization, of which the leadership of ATUC is a member. And ATUC is currently cooperating with 70 national centers of the world.
He also said that in 2018-2023, the legal inspectors of the trade union submitted 79 lawsuits to the courts regarding the violation of the labor rights of employees: “63 of them were related to reinstatement, and all the demands were satisfied by the courts. During this period, 739,480 applications and complaints received by AHIK and member organizations were investigated and appropriate measures were taken. 99.5% of the applications received by the member organizations were resolved positively. During this period, 600,000 manats of financial assistance was given to trade union members by ATUC. Also, during this period, 141,600 manats were given to the families of the martyrs of January 20. More than 120 field agreements and more than 11,500 collective agreements are concluded every year.
“During 2018-2022, technical labor inspectors of trade unions conducted public inspection work in 1,761 enterprises and organizations and discovered 7,337 violations. 90% of them have been eliminated. As a result, 739 technological equipment and machines were brought into compliance with safety standards and regulations, and the working conditions of 6,700 people were improved. Also, every year, within the framework of the International Day of Labor Protection, events and a competition for the title “The best enterprise (organization) of the year in creating healthy and safe working conditions” are held. Our main goal in holding the events is to create healthy and safe working conditions for employees, and at the same time to increase the responsibility of the persons responsible for this field, to achieve a more careful approach of employers to labor protection issues,” said the MP of the Milli Majlis.
In the speeches about the report on the activities of ATUC in 2018-2023, the work of the institution was considered satisfactory and the decision was adopted unanimously. Also, the report of the Inspection Commission was heard and approved by voting.
Sattar Mohbaliyev was nominated for the position of the chairman in the speeches on the issue of “election of the chairman of the ATUC” in the agenda. Sattar Mohbaliyev, the vice-president of the International Trade Union Confederation, the Pan European Regional Council, the Confederation of General Trade Unions and the Organization of Turkish States Trade Unions, the deputy of the Milli Majlis, was re-elected as the chairman of the Azerbaijan Trade Union Confederation through open voting.
Sattar Mohbaliyev thanked the participants of the Congress who trusted him and stressed that he will work more diligently in the direction of the development of the Azerbaijan trade union, protection of the labor rights of its members, creation of working conditions in accordance with the norms for them, organization of their rest and protection of their health.
The chairman of ATUC also congratulated the head of our state Mr. Ilham Aliyev on his upcoming birthday and wished him success in his professional activities for the bright future of Azerbaijan. Moreover, Sattar Mohbaliyev congratulated our people on the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year.
With that, the VI Congress of ATUC completed its work