Advisory Board established under the State Migration Service

For the purpose of holding initial working discussions on the establishment of the Advisory Board under the State Migration Service meeting was held in the headquarters of the Service with the entrepreneurship organizations operating in Azerbaijan, associative unions of employers and representatives of large companies.

Chief of the Service Vusal Huseynov expressed his gratitude to the participants of the event for their support of the initiative and accepting the invitation.  He expressed his confidence that this platform, which will be formed on the initiative of the SMS will ensure transparency related with work permits, and contribute to the analysis of the difficulties faced by employers. He noted that Advisory Board will be an effective control mechanism for granting work permits to foreigners who are considered as subjects of labor relations and for maintaining impartiality in case of refusal. He announced that processing of work permits will be fully online and this will allow tracking, at all stages, of the applications to SMS in order to involve foreigners and stateless persons in paid labor activities .

V. Huseynov recalled that several meetings with employers were held in a very short time and opinions of the business sector on migration was received. The SMS should ensure the safety of the domestic labor market, as well as the protection of the employer's business interests. In this regard, it is planned to create such a board under the Service to feel the pulse of business.

At the meeting Chief of the Service highlighted that the program with the BP and the State Oil Company on nationalization of the country’s energy, oil and gas projects should cover other sectors, too.  

V. Huseynov emphasized that the Secretariat of the Advisory Board will be established and employers will be given the opportunity to debate in a group format. He also highlighted that relevant work on simplification of migration legislation is also carried out.

Future plans for the solution of issues raised in working order were discussed. The National Confederation of Entrepreneurs Organizations, AmCham, Azerbaijan-Turkey Business Association, German-Azerbaijan Foreign Trade Chamber, British Business Group, the Azerbaijan-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry, State Oil Company, BP and representatives of other organizations contributed to the effective discussions with their active participation in the meeting. It was decided to prepare the Board’s Rules of Procedure at the meeting, held under the detailed exchange of views.