According to Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan (No.00 of November 12, 1995), “everyone has the right to social security”. Social welfare issues are detailed described by laws On Social Benefits (No. 55-IIIQ of February 7, 2006), On Social Insurance (No.250-IQ of February 18, 1997), On Protection of Public Health (No. 360-IQ of June 26, 1997), On Medical Insurance (No. 725-IQ of October 28, 1999), On Labour Pensions (No. 54-IIIQ of February 7, 2006), On Social Services (No. 275-IVQ of December 30, 2011), On Unemployment Insurance (No.765-VQ of June 30, 2017), On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (No. 1153-VQ of May 31, 2018), On Employment (No.1196-VQ of June 29, 2018), et cetera.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan regulates the labour market and ensures social protection for the population. The State Social Protection Fund under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population regulates social insurance activities and provides citizens with pensions.
The following public legal entities under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population were established based on the previous corresponding state services according to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan On Additional Measures to Improve Governance in the Field of Social Protection (No.912 of December 30, 2019):
- The State Employment Agency conducts activities related to the organisation of active employment measures, management of unemployment insurance funds, standards for social protection of job seekers and the unemployed, as well as labour market analysis;
- The State Social Protection Fund regulates activities in the sector of social insurance and the provision of pensions to citizens;
- The State Agency for Medical-Social Expertise and Rehabilitation operates in disability identification and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities;
- The Social Services Agency provides social services to individuals and families in need, enhancing their social protection and welfare and implementing state policies and regulations related to adoption.
According to the Rules for the Organisation of self-employment (No. 168 of May 13, 2020), the organisation of self-employment is carried out by the relevant state agency in the following stages: providing advice and information on the organisation of self-employment; assistance in the selection and organisation of self-employment in the sectors of the economy, based on the analysis of the labour market; help in the preparation of a business plan for the organisation of self-employment, including conducting trainings and evaluating their results; provision of materials, equipment and other property in kind to unemployed and job-seeking persons for the organisation of the selected self-employment direction on a contractual basis for one year; and periodic monitoring of the activities of a person involved in self-employment.
These general social security measures are relevant to culture, and the mentioned schemes would apply to those working in the cultural sector, including self-employed artists. The Law on Culture (No.506-IVQ of 21 December 2012) also provides social security measures for cultural workers. Social protection of cultural activity subjects is a key component of the state’s policy, and the organisation of incentives for cultural workers and creative individuals for their services and contributions to cultural development is among the state’s responsibilities. It applies to creative workers and includes provisions to improve the working conditions of artists and scientists, such as artists and sculptors receiving working space under favourable conditions (e.g., low rents). Salaries for cultural institutions with national status are significantly higher than those for institutions without this status. Workers actively involved in the country’s cultural development and those with long service may be eligible for special pensions after retirement. Creative persons, winners of festivals and competitions, are awarded honorary titles, scholarships, orders and medals.
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