Event on public awareness in migration sphere held in Ganja

Events on public awareness in migration sphere are continued in the regions of Azerbaijan Republic by State Migration Service and regional and city executive authorities.

Next such event was organized in Ganja on June 1, 2012. Senior officials of the State Migration Service, authorized representatives of the executive authorities of Ganja, Shamkir, Tovuz, Aghstafa, Gazakh, Dashkasan, Gadabay, Goygol, Samukh, Goranboy, Naftalan regions, local municipalities and law-enforcement bodies, as well as a number of enterprise and organization heads, entrepreneurs employing foreigners and stateless persons and Mass Media representatives participated in the event.

Declaring the event First deputy head of Ganja city executive authority Ilham Aliyev spoke about social significance of the event. Chiefs of Head Departments of the State Migration Service Ismayil Abdullayev, Elkhan Valiyev and Chief of Yevlakh city Detention Center for Illegal Migrants Ikram Abdullayev in their turn gave information on wide scale measures taken in migration field of Azerbaijan Republic. Chief of Head Department of the State Migration Service Ismayil Abdullayev in his speech stated that as a result of successful policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev in recent years all the spheres of the economy develops rapidly. This factor has turned Azerbaijan Republic into an attractive for foreign investors and labour migrants.

Then information on legal status of foreigners and stateless persons in Azerbaijan Republic, extension of temporary staying period of foreigners and stateless persons, granting permits for temporary and permanent residence, work permits for foreigners and stateless persons to engage in paid labor activity in the territory of the country by employers and extension of their validity period, procedures of their registration upon place of residence, responsibility for violating requirements of the existing legislation in migration field, as well as legislative acts regulating other issues regarding migration was brought to notice of the participants. 

It was stated that rights of foreigners and stateless persons in Azerbaijan Republic are regulated with the Law of Azerbaijan Republic on “Legal status of foreigners and stateless persons”. According to the Law foreigners and stateless persons can come to Azerbaijan Republic for temporary or permanent residence or stay temporarily on its territory in a way defined by the legislation of Azerbaijan Republic. Foreigners and stateless persons temporarily staying in the territory of Azerbaijan Republic should get registered upon place of stay or residence in a way defined by the legislation and leave the territory of Azerbaijan Republic after expiration of the period defined for them.

It was mentioned that foreigners and stateless persons can apply to the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan Republic related with obtaining temporary residence permit 22 (twenty two) days before the expiration of temporary staying or temporary residence period. Foreigners and stateless persons residing legally in Azerbaijan Republic at least two years can be granted permanent residence right in the territory of the country (immigrant status) in a way defined by the Law of Azerbaijan Republic on ”Immigration”.

It was also notified to participants that foreigners and stateless persons intending to engage in labour activity should obtain work permit according to the Law of Azerbaijan Republic on “Labour migration”. For this purpose they should apply to the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan Republic only through employer. Upon the expiration of the work permit or breech of employment contract labour migrant should leave Azerbaijan Republic.

Event participants were also informed in detail on sanctions imposed on foreigners and stateless persons for violating the rules of stay, residence and engagement in paid labour activity in Azerbaijan Republic in compliance with Articles 339 and 340 of the Administrative Offences Code of Azerbaijan Republic.

At the end of the event questions arising interest of participants were answered by senior officials of the Service.

Measures on public awareness in migration sphere are being continued by the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan Republic in other regions as well.