“Examples of Corporate Social Responsibility are widely observed in Azerbaijan, which is undergoing a rapid development path. In fact, the principles of corporate social responsibility in Azerbaijan were reflected in the charitable activities of oil magnates Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev, Musa Nagiyev and other entrepreneurs in the late 19th century. At that time, a lot of money was spent on the construction of schools, health and cultural centers in Baku, the construction of the Baku Water Pipeline, the establishment of Baku State University, as well as financial assistance to young people sent to European universities. Currently, the economic strength of our country is continuously increasing, favorable conditions are being created for entrepreneurs, and in this case, business representatives begin to earn more, and then their social responsibilities towards society appear. In his speeches, President Ilham Aliyev recommended that employers take into account the importance of social responsibility: “Because the state provides comprehensive support to businessmen, and businessmen must understand their social responsibilities.” Today, a number of companies in our country have voluntarily joined social responsibility. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Pasha Holding, AzerGold Closed Joint-Stock Company and a number of banks and private organizations have a positive impact on the development of the country by carrying out various charitable actions.
This opinion was expressed by the chairman of the Azerbaijan Trade Union Confederation (ATUC), MP Sattar Mohbaliyev, speaking at the award ceremony of social partners who actively participate in corporate social responsibility events and contribute to the implementation of programs to support vulnerable groups.
According to him, the best examples of corporate social responsibility principles in Azerbaijan today are being implemented by the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, President of the Azerbaijan Cultural Foundation, First Deputy of the New Azerbaijan Party, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva: Haydar Aliyev Foundation, under her leadership, implements the basic principles of corporate social responsibility, solves social problems that concern the society, and carries out projects to improve people’s living conditions, education and health. At the initiative of the Foundation, many orphanages, kindergartens, schools, residential buildings, health and cultural centers for young people deprived of parental care and graduating from orphanages are being built, sending soldiers and officers wounded in the 2020 Patriotic War abroad for treatment and providing them with high-tech prosthetics are a part of a number of socially important measures. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in his speech at the opening of the Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev monument in Baku, regarding the charity activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, said: “Currently, the process of overhaul, restoration and construction of our religious monuments on the liberated territories has begun. In Shusha, the Yukhari Govhar Aga, Ashagi Govhar Aga, Saatli Mosques, Mosque of the Agdam city were overhauled. Zangilan city Mosque as well. At the same time, the construction of new mosques in Dashalti, Hadrut and Shusha is initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Only the number of religious monuments I have mentioned is 8, and I am sure that the Foundation will take an active part in other projects. ” The Heydar Aliyev Foundation provides an example of corporate social responsibility to the whole world by implementing various social projects not only in Azerbaijan, but also in Europe, Asia and even Africa”.
“The Azerbaijan Trade Union Confederation and its member organizations, as an organization that protects the social and economic interests of workers, continue to cooperate with social partners within the framework of corporate social responsibility.
Thus, in accordance with the “Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan on assistance in organizing the self-employment of vulnerable groups”, 200,000 (two hundred thousand) AZN were transferred to the State Employment Agency. The measures envisaged within this project have been implemented. As a continuation of charitable events, the ATUC in order to provide financial support has allocated to the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences a total of 30,000 AZN for the organization of a grant competition for young scientists and the Azerbaijan Science Festival on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of great leader Heydar Aliyev. In total, 38,000 AZN were spent annually on 130 students who achieved high results in their studies, about 90,000 AZN were spent on free meals for 255 students from low-income families, and tuition fees were paid to students in need. During 2020-2021, 100,000 AZN were transferred to the Student Education Credit Fund,” the ATUC chairman said.
The MP noted that during Great Patriotic War, the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan and its member organizations took some measures to support our glorious army, soldiers, officers and our citizens working in the background, as was the case during the First Karabakh War: “During the Patriotic War, ATUC Executive Committee and its member organizations donated 1.036.815 AZN to the Azerbaijan Armed Forces Assistance Fund, 600.000 AZN was transferred to the Karabakh Revival Fund, and 594.770 AZN was donated to the YASHAT Foundation.” In addition, 1.610.771 AZN financial aid was provided to the Armed Forces and the frontline. It should also be noted that 13.735 families of martyrs and veterans received one-time assistance in the amount of 1.915.913 AZN. 286 children of 172 martyrs were taken into care until they reached the age of 18. Along with all this, participants of the Great Patriotic War, veterans and members of the families of martyrs are provided with sanatorium-resort vouchers in accordance with their wishes in order to restore their health. During the pandemic, the ATUC and its member organizations (9 months of 2020-2021) provided financial and food assistance in the amount of 16.025.177 AZN. Transferred 632.672 AZN to the Fund to Support Fight against Coronavirus and 705.000 AZN to “Regional Development” Public Union. 114.724 low-income families received assistance in the amount of 4.833.163 AZN, including food gifts were distributed twice to low-income families living in 76 cities and regions. In addition, the Azerbaijan Trade Union Confederation holds an annual competition called “The Best Enterprise (Organization) of the Year”, dedicated to labor and environmental protection, and the winning enterprises are awarded in various nominations.”
Mohbaliyev stressed that the concept of social responsibility has a very broad and deep meaning: “It is based on three areas – finance, the impact of its activities on society and the environment and ecology.This applies not only to business, but also to the government, public and voluntary organizations. Therefore, everyone should be united and work together to to realize the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. According to the program of the event, employers will be awarded in various nominations. Therefore, I congratulate the employers who will be awarded and wish them success.”