Azerbaijan

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Azerbaijan was among the earliest Muslim-majority countries to grant women the right to vote and stand for election, doing so in 1918 during the period of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, preceding many European countries. Building on this historical legacy, Azerbaijan has undertaken a series of measures aimed at reducing the gender pay gap by strengthening legal protections, modernizing employment policies, and advancing equal opportunities. Over the past two decades, the country has established a comprehensive legal framework to ensure gender equality, including the 2006 Law on Gender Equality, which mandates equal remuneration for work of equal value and prohibits gender-based discrimination.

In recent years, significant labour market reforms have been introduced. The government has abolished outdated restrictions that previously limited women’s access to certain occupations, including hazardous or technical roles, and has amended the Labour Code to permit women to undertake night shifts and overtime with their consent. These reforms are intended to expand women’s access to higher-paid sectors in which they have historically been underrepresented.

Azerbaijan also cooperates closely with international partners, including the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Nations, to identify barriers to women’s career advancement, strengthen workplace safety and anti-harassment policies and support training programs for women in sectors such as transport, energy, and construction.

Legal Framework

Azerbaijan’s legal framework for promoting gender equality and reducing the gender pay gap is grounded in constitutional guarantees and several core legislative acts. The 1995 Constitution establishes equality between men and women and prohibits discrimination in employment, forming the foundation for equal-pay principles.  Article 24 of the constitution guarantees that men and women have the same rights and freedoms, while Article 35 ensures that every individual has the right to freely choose their occupation, profession, and workplace according to their abilities.  

Articles 16 and 154 of the Labour Code prohibit any form of discrimination on grounds unrelated to professional competence, including gender, race, religion, political views, or trade union membership. These provisions also forbid reducing an employee’s salary or paying them less than the legally established minimum wage due to such discriminatory factors. Furthermore, the Law on Guarantees of Gender Equality (2006) explicitly prohibits gender-based discrimination, mandates equal pay for work of equal value, and obliges employers and state authorities to ensure gender-equal treatment in recruitment, promotion, and working conditions. 

International Standards

Recognizing decent work as one of the main objectives of national economic and social policy, Azerbaijan has ratified 59 ILO Conventions and 1 Protocol, making it one of the CIS countries with the highest level of alignment with ILO standards. This includes key conventions related to gender equality, such as the Equal Remuneration Convention (No 100), the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No. 111), the Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention (No.156), and the Maternity Protection Convention (No. 183). The country has also been a party to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) since 1995.  Under Article 148 of the Constitution, international treaties to which Azerbaijan is a party form an integral part of the domestic legislative system.

Due to recent labour law reforms related to women’s employment, Azerbaijan’s index in the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2024 report rose from 78.8 to 85. At the same time, the draft amendments to the Labour Code concerning women’s involvement in night shifts, overtime, and business travel are expected to be reflected in the World Bank’s 2026 report. At the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, these reforms were highlighted as a positive example of progress in women’s labour rights.

National Policies

Building on its legal and international commitments, Azerbaijan has developed and implemented national programs to promote gender equality, strengthen pay equity and increase women’s participation in the labour market. These policies aim to reduce occupational segregation, encourage women’s leadership, and reinforce anti-discrimination mechanisms.

Key initiatives include:

The "State Program on the Implementation of the Employment Strategy of Azerbaijan for 2019-2030": This program addresses issues related to women's employment and gender segregation in the labour market. It focuses on strengthening the legal framework and promoting a culture of gender equality. The Program ensures equal opportunities for men and women in education, employment, entrepreneurship, social security, and political participation, including specific provisions to prevent discrimination in education and economic activities.

The Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022–2026 aims to increase the ratio of women’s average monthly wages to men’s from 65.8% in 2021 to 80% by 2026. As a result of the pursued social policy, five major social reform packages have been carried out in the country during 2018–2025.  In scope of these reforms, average wages of employees regulated under the Unified Tariff Schedule have increased by approximately 14%. Additionally, the monthly salaries of non-civil servant employees working in government bodies have risen by an average of 16%. Moreover, the monthly salaries of managers and other employees working in certain state budget-funded organizations have been increased by an average of 15% as of January 1, 2025. The organizations covered by this decree also include sectors predominantly staffed by women.

The Tripartite General Collective Agreement for the period of 2023-2025 was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and social partners aiming to promote social dialogue, equal pay for work of equal value, vocational training for women, and expanded access to employment opportunities. It also calls for awareness campaigns and training programs on gender equality, occupational safety, and labour rights across the public and private sectors.

Additionally, nationwide awareness-raising events were organized under the campaign “Gender Equality in Labour Relations – Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities” to encourage women’s inclusion in male-dominated sectors across all economic regions. More than 2000 social partners and representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan participated in these events. During the campaign, detailed information was provided about the relevant services of the State Employment Agency under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the employment of women. Furthermore, information on services offered by the State Employment Agency to support women’s employment was disseminated through informative materials.

These measures demonstrate Azerbaijan’s dedication to narrowing the gender wage gap and promoting equal opportunities in the labour market.

Azerbaijan has long been a committed advocate of equal rights and opportunities for women and men. Through the implementation of enabling legislation and policies in the labour sector, the country has achieved notable progress with broad socio-economic benefits. The principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value remains central to Azerbaijan’s national strategies and action plans, reflecting its commitment to developing a fair and inclusive labour market.

Azerbaijan’s engagement with the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) is driven by its goal to share successful national practices, learn from the best practices of other countries and benefit from the technical expertise of EPIC and partner organizations. Through collaboration with EPIC, Azerbaijan aims to strengthen its initiatives to reduce the wage gap and promote equal opportunities using a “leave no one behind” approach.

Having adopted a wide range of ILO standards, including key conventions on gender equality, Azerbaijan is well-positioned both to contribute to and benefit from EPIC’s global platform. Azerbaijan is confident that ongoing collaboration with EPIC will produce strong outcomes nationally and internationally, strengthening the country’s position as a regional leader in promoting gender equality, inclusive economic growth, and progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - particularly the SDG 8.5.