OREANDA-NEWS. September 29, 2011. The Azerbaijan Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) has started work on signing of the next general collective agreement (GCA) between the general government, trade unions and employers

Today in Baku ATUC chairman Sattar Mehbaliyev has said that the Confederation has already drafted the agreement.

"We also drafted the texts of official letters to employers and the government to be sent for approval," Mehbaliyev said.

He emphasized that the date of agreement signing has not been fixed as the document demands thorough discussion for further approval.

The GCA between the government, trade unions and employers for 2010-2011 was concluded by the Cabinet Ministers, the ATUC and the Azerbaijan Confederation of Entrepreneurs (ACE) on 8 February 2010.

In the agreement the parties declared on support of market economics, plans of entry of the country in the World Trade Organization (WTO), to work over stage-by-stage bringing of the population’s income to the requirements, established by renewed European Social Charter, approach in a staged manner minimum wages, base part of pension and need criterion to size of cost of living (in accordance with them targeted social assistance is calculated).

The agreement says of further introduction of single tariff-professional books of poll, regulation of single tariff scale in budgetary sphere and provision of quality and uninterrupted operation of public utilities in the field of economic activity. Introduction of business risks insurance system was coordinated as well. The agreement also contains obligations on adoption of rules of distribution of housing space, built at the expense of the enterprises and organizations, among employees, on creation of sanitary conditions for preservation of the general and reproductive health of women.

At that, at least 0.15% from wages fund of the enterprises and the organizations, which have signed branch and regional collective agreements, should be transferred as membership fee in a trade union.