OREANDA-NEWS. December 17, 2010. The Economic Research Center (ERC), an NGO of Azerbaijan, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation are realizing project "The role of trade unions in social dialogue between workers and employers". Yesterday the ERC held a roundtable to discuss the results of a survey on assessment of the current state in this field.

Center’s expert Fuad Rasulov says the poll that covered employees and employers in Baku, Guba, Ganja, Sheki and Lankaran involved 325 people - 250 employees and 75 employers.

The poll showed that 16% of the respondents believe that the country has a strategy of governmental agencies on partnership with employees and trade unions operating at the local level, 68% think that such a strategy is lacking but it would be nice if it was, and another 16% are of the opinion that there is not a necessity in such a strategy. Only 3% of employees discuss with the employer when they sign an employment contract the terms of the contract on section "Social Responsibility", 28% sometimes discuss this issue, 12% consider its discussion possible, and 57% has never discussed with the employer such aspects of the contract.

Among the respondents to the question "How much are you informed about the role and functions of trade unions and their work methods and relations with employers?” 45% informed that they had little information about it and display interest on the occasion, 53% believe that they do not need in that. In turn, 3% of employees are familiar with the mechanism of dialogue between the employer, the employee and the trade union, 65% have no information, but would like to get it, and 32% believe they do not need it. 71% of respondents consider that Azerbaijani legislation does not create an opportunity to participate in the process of decision making and implementation of management decisions is imperfect and requires development.

Only 11% of the respondents claimed that they were satisfied with the legislation, and 49% of the employers hold the same opinion. 68% of the employers say that their companies do not have trade unions, 32% that such a structure exists. Part of employers, despite the awareness of the existence of trade unions on industries of activity, informed that that in spheres of manufacture and processing, as well as workers in the service sector (hotels, restaurants) stated that there are not trade unions in their workplaces.

"This suggests that relations between employers and trade unions of workers of textile and light industry, enterprises of local industry and public utility services, scientific and production enterprises, business and science are weak," Rasulov sums up.

The poll organizers came to conclusion that labor contracts are not signed in some cases in Azerbaijan while the signed contracts fail to reflect social issues. At that the relevant trade unions do not keep at least these matters under control.

"In some cases, there is discrimination against employees and disunity in respect to employees. On the other hand, official wage is very low, and therefore social insurance of employees is low as well. In most cases normal working conditions are not created for employees,” he said.

The poll group revealed availability of some employers’ formal attitude to agreements in the area of wages and collective agreements. It is also observed the lack of employers’ associations with important powers for the conclusion of regional and local contracts, that causes delay in the development of social co-operation in Azerbaijan; absence or presence of scanty benefits and the additional social security of employees in collective agreements; lack of interest in some enterprises to introduce format of agreement regulating employment and social relations. It is necessary to establish primary trade unions in most small and medium-sized enterprises of the private sector of the economy.

"Because of lack of relevant associations of employers the process of preparation of local contracts is delayed in the country. Employers are not interested in creation and registration of their associations. The degree of liability for breach of collective agreements and contracts required by law is insufficient. Thus, there is no mechanism of economic (financial) liability for violation of collective agreements and agreements of regulations (for ex: liability for wage delays)," Rasulov said.