Baku:The 39th meeting of the Advisory Council on Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has commenced in Baku. This event marks Azerbaijan's takeover of the council's chairmanship from Uzbekistan.

According to Azeri-Press news agency, Anar Aliyev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Labor and Social Protection, highlighted the significance of the council's activities in exchanging experiences and discussing future labor and socio-economic policies. He emphasized Azerbaijan's recent reforms in labor, employment, and social protection, noting the implementation of five social reform packages benefiting 4 million people between 2018 and 2026, with an annual allocation of 8 billion manats ($4.7 billion).

The meeting also covered the expansion of employment measures, revealing a significant increase in employment contracts and wages. Azerbaijan's steps towards digital transformation in labor and social protection were underlined, alongside the establishment of DOST centers for streamlined public social services.

During the meeting, representatives from various CIS countries, including Uzbekistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, shared updates on their social and labor sectors. The session included discussions on initiatives like the declaration of 2028 as the Year of Social Development in the CIS and the Prospective Development Plan for Model Legislative Activities.