Baku: Azerbaijan is set to introduce legislation mandating equal pay for work of equal value, irrespective of gender, as part of an effort to ensure gender equality. This initiative was highlighted during the recent discussion on proposed amendments to the Labor Code by the Milli Majlis Committee on Labor and Social Policy.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the proposed amendments require employers to offer equal wages to employees engaged in work of equal value, whether the work is identical or different, without discrimination based on gender. Employers will need to determine the value of work while considering factors such as working conditions, the nature of the labor function, and the tariff-qualification characteristics as outlined in the current unified tariff-qualification reference books.

The amendments also propose changes to the Law 'On Guarantees of Gender (Equality of Men and Women),' ensuring that wages are not only equal for the same or similar work but also for work deemed of equal value. Article 9.1 of the law stipulates that employees in the same workplace, with equivalent qualifications, working under identical conditions, and performing work of equal value should receive equal pay, including wages, bonuses, and other financial incentives, regardless of gender.

The current standard, which provides equal pay for men and women performing the same work with the same qualifications, is more limited than the proposed concept of equal pay for work of equal value. The existing standard does not cover scenarios where men and women perform different jobs of equal value. As a result, Article 9.1 is suggested to be reworded to align with the broader objective of the legislation.