Success in the fight against illegal migration depends on the correct implementation of legislation

During yesterday's meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of AR, dedicated to the socio-economic development in the first half of 2012 and the upcoming challenges, President Ilham Aliyev, among other things, outlined the contours of the problems related to illegal migration.

   At the same time he was in his role as causes of the influx of migrant workers called a unique rate of development of the country, despite the financial crisis in Europe. However, despite the unique development rate, he said, the control of the labor market is imperfect.

   Unfortunately, in Azerbaijan in this field has not yet introduced a clear system. Cases of concealed employment enough, the facts are revealed illegal arrival and illegal activities of foreign workers in our country, and these trends are worsening, he said.

   The President believes that the unemployment rate in Azerbaijan is almost zero, and officially marked 5.4% is nothing but a sign of shadow employment. As an example, he showed the situation in building, where "there are non-registered persons who are employed in certain jobs, work at construction sites, and earn wages. But there is no allowance for this." He instructed to end this once and for all.

   According to the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Migration Center Aliovsat Aliyev, illegal migration in the country is not overcome because almost all the objects which employ "cheap" foreigners belong to the people close to political power. By law, the illegal exploitation of a labor migrant causes a fine of AZN 7,000 for individuals and AZN 40,000 for entities.

   "At some construction sites (the sports and tourist complex Shahdag, the three towers glowing in front of the Parliament, and others) there are thousands of Turkish, Albanian and other workers. Deliberately naming objects, whose control is exercised by the President personally, I want to say that his speech at a meeting of the government figures either his ignorance of the realities, or his misleading the people of the country," said the lawyer.

   According to the quota in 2012, 11,974 labor migrants can operate in Azerbaijan, but, in fact, there are many more. Most of them are imported here, either deceived or by force, taking away their documents. Employees of the Baku (most of the migrants are in the capital and its suburbs) Regional Office for Migration Agency month tour the construction sites, collect a few tens, sometimes hundreds of poor fellows, and expel them for the sake of "preventive care" out of the country. After some time, there are others of their countrymen re-imported to Azerbaijan.

   According to Aliyev, if we follow the applicable laws in the implementation of standards, and adhere to the law, illegal immigration can be fought successfully. But high-ranking officials are not interested in this, he believes. - 17D-