Azerbaijan joins global dialogue on equal pay

BAKU/NEW YORK (ILO News) – At the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), Azerbaijan took part for the first time in an Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) side event, marking an important step following its recent membership in the coalition.

The event, titled “Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Eliminating Legal and Structural Barriers to Achieve Social and Economic Justice”, brought together governments, international organizations, employers’ and workers’ representatives, and civil society to advance solutions for achieving equal pay for work of equal value. Discussions focused on strengthening access to justice, addressing structural inequalities and promoting inclusive legal frameworks as key drivers to close the gender pay gap by 2030.

© Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan

© Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Orxan Nadirov, Chief Advisor at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, at the EPIC event on gender pay gap in New York, USA, on 12 March 2026 © Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Orxan Nadirov, Chief Advisor at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Azerbaijan, highlighted ongoing national reforms to promote gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. These include removing the list of banned occupations for women in a wide range of sectors, integrating provisions on protection for workers with family responsibilities into the Labour Code and introducing digital employment contracts to enhance transparency. These measures aim at expanding women’s access to higher-paid sectors and leadership roles.

Azerbaijan’s participation reflects its growing engagement within EPIC since joining the coalition in 2025 with ILO support. It reaffirms the country’s commitment to promoting equal pay for work of equal value and aligning national policies with international labour standards, including the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) and the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111).