Azerbaijan to chair RALI in 2011

In 2011, Azerbaijan will chair the Regional Alliance of Labour Inspectorates (RALI), Azerbaijani Labor and Social Protection Minister Fuzuli Alakbarov told journalists in Baku on the sidelines of the 3rd RALI Conference "The role of Labour Inspectorates in the National OSH system ".

"Developing international relations, we seek to improve the working conditions of Azerbaijani workers. Three years ago, the State Labor Inspectorate has become a member of the International Association of Labour Inspection (IALI). Thus, we will chair the RALI in 2011 and as you see, we are hosting the third conference today," he said.

Alakbarov said the issues discussed at the conference are relevant to Azerbaijan.

"The international labor inspections are focused on issues of creating safe and healthy working conditions, health and others. All this is important for Azerbaijan," he said. "We do enough work in this direction, both in preparing the legal framework and the development of national standards for improving working conditions."

IALI President Michele Patterson told journalists that Azerbaijan has observed a success in the field of occupational safety and health.

"Three factors should be observed to ensure occupational safety; the labor inspection's organized activities," Patterson said.

Construction, extractive industries and transportation are the spheres where the highest number of accidents, injuries and fatalities are observed.

The 3rd RALI Conference "The role of Labour Inspectorates in the National OSH system" is being held in Baku on Nov.18-19. The conference is organized by the Azerbaijani Labor and Social Protection Ministry, IALI and the International Labour Organization under the project to strengthen the capacity of the Azerbaijani State Labor Inspectorate implemented with World Bank support by AETS - a consortium of German and French companies.

The conference is attended by representatives of State Labor Inspections of Australia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey and other countries, international experts and senior officials from relevant institutions and organizations of Azerbaijan.


/Trend/