The Cabinet of Ministers, the Confederation of Trade Unions and the National Confederation of Employers' Organizations signed a tripartite general collective agreement for 2016-2017 on April 15. This document defines the coherent positions of the sides on socio-economic and labor relations.
Notable is the fact that in contrast to previous agreements of the kind the document does not include figures on macroeconomic indicators, including the pace of growth in consumer prices, unemployment and poverty.
The agreement, as previously, provides for tripartite consultation in the revision of tariffs for services and products of local monopolies. However, such harmonization has never been carried out.
In 2014, the government undertook the obligation to simplify the state of mortgage lending. However, this did not happen. Now, this step is postponed for the next two years.
The government also pledged to speed up the adoption of the Competition Code. The bill was adopted on first reading several years ago and its whereabouts are unknown now.
Yet another "transitional" government commitment is the signing of the program on decent work, improving the unified tariff tables in order to eliminate imbalances between its layers.
It is unknown if the minimum wage will reach the subsistence level in 2017. The government once again committed itself in this regard. However, the Confederation of Trade Unions did not require reporting from the Cabinet of Ministers on this matter.
The parties also pledged to pass a law of Azerbaijan On Employers' Associations. This document received a positive evaluation by the International Labor Organization.
Turan IA asked the Confederation to comment on the terms of the General Collective Agreement. However, the Confederation did not respond to the news agency’s questions. -----08D
Economics
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On July 26, the Ministry of Economy hosted a meeting with entrepreneurs from the non-oil industry to explore ways to stimulate local production and enhance export potential.
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Azerbaijani internet service providers Aztelekom and Baktelekom will introduce substantial changes to their pricing structure starting August 15, the companies announced today. Under the new tariffs, the minimum internet speed will rise to 100 Mbit/s, with the cost per Mbit/s decreasing from 0.45 AZN to 0.25 AZN. As a result, monthly charges will be set at 25 AZN for 100 Mbit/s, 30 AZN for 150 Mbit/s, and 36 AZN for 250 Mbit/s.
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Independent experts suggest that Azerbaijan may be on the verge of another devaluation of its currency, the manat, due to a shrinking trade and payment surplus. The anticipated economic adjustments come amidst a decline in foreign currency inflows and reduced oil production.
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Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met today with Ahmed Moallim Figi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, at the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. This meeting followed a discussion held the previous day between Figi and Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikail Jabbarov.
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