Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Azerbaijan (Ratification: 1992)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Article 7 of the Convention. Statistics of the economically active population, employment and unemployment. In reply to the previous comments, the Government indicates in its report that statistics of the economically active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment are carried out on the basis of the Sample Statistical Survey and developed in accordance with international standards and ILO guidelines. The Government adds that the Sample Statistical Survey is a quarterly labour force survey that covers 1 per cent of all households and results in statistics that are representative of the whole country. The Committee notes that statistics of the economically active population, employment and unemployment continue to be provided to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through its website. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments towards the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Article 8. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that data and methodological information relating to the 2009 Population Census has been supplied to the ILO Department of Statistics. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on plans for conducting the next round of the population census. Please also provide information on any developments towards the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Article 9. Statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Committee notes that statistics on average monthly hours actually worked by employees, collected from establishment surveys, are supplied to the ILO Department of Statistics (Article 9(1)). The latest data refers to 2013. The Committee requests the Government to communicate updated statistics of time rate of wages and normal hours of work as soon as they become available (Article 9(2)).

The Committee notes the following information concerning Articles of Part II in respect of which the Government has not accepted the obligations of the Convention according to Article 16(4).

Articles 10 and 11. Statistics of wage structure and distribution of labour cost. The Government indicates that data on the structure and distribution of average monthly wages by workers who have worked the whole month of November are compiled annually from the establishment survey. Data covers all types of economic activity and is disseminated on the website of Statistics Azerbaijan. The Committee notes that data on hourly labour costs collected from establishment surveys for the period 2008–13 have been transmitted to the ILO Department of Statistics. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the extent of the implementation of Articles 10 and 11.

Articles 12 and 13. Consumer price indices and statistics of household expenditure. The Committee notes that consumer price indices are published by the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and methodological information in this regard is submitted to the ILO. It further notes that statistics on household income and expenditure are derived from the Sample Survey of Household Budgets, conducted in line with World Bank methodology and recommendations since 2001. In view of the fact that the requirements of Articles 12 and 13 appear to be fulfilled, the Committee invites the Government to consider the possibility of accepting the related obligations and to provide information in this regard.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries and occupational diseases. The Government indicates that statistics on occupational injuries are regularly submitted to the ILO Department of Statistics. Statistics on occupational injuries, along with the relevant methodological information, are also disseminated by Statistics Azerbaijan through its website. The Government further indicates that statistics on occupational diseases are compiled from records of the Ministry of Health; however, these are neither disseminated nor available disaggregated by economic activity. Statistics Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Health are expected to consider working in collaboration in the future in order to compile these statistics. In view of the fact that the requirements of this provision appear to be applied, at least in part, the Committee invites the Government to consider the possibility of accepting the related obligations and to provide information in this regard. The Committee also invites the Government to provide information on any new developments in the field of statistics of occupational diseases.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report received on 4 September 2009, which contains information in reply to its previous comments. It would be grateful if the Government would supply additional information as to the following points.

Article 7 of the Convention. Statistics of the economically active population. The Committee notes that a labour force survey was carried out in 2003. However, no methodological information has been made available to the ILO and no estimates of employment and unemployment have been provided based on this survey. The Committee asks the Government to supply statistics and methodological information concerning the 2003 Labour Force Survey, as well as information on their adaptation of the International Standard Classification of all economic activities (ISIC).

Article 8. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. Noting that the last population census in Azerbaijan was conducted in 2009, the committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information and data structure and distribution of the economically active population based on that census.

Article 9(1). The Committee notes that statistics of average monthly earnings by economic activity, covering the whole country and classified according to ISIC, Rev.3, are now disaggregated by sex. New series of statistics on average monthly hours actually worked by employees and covering 2008 and 2009, made available to the ILO for publication in the ILO Yearbook of Labour Statistics (in accordance with article 5) are also disaggregated by sex. The Committee notes with interest such progress made with regard to the compilation of wages and hours of work statistics and invites the Government to continue to supply regularly such statistics, as soon as practicable. In this regard, the Committee also draws to the attention of the Government the new international standards concerning the Measurement of Working Time (see Resolution I, adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians at http://.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/
lang--en/docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm), whose larger number of concepts and measures would seem to be better aligned to national practice.

Articles not accepted according to Article 16.

Article 10. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. The State Statistical Committee’s website showed that statistics on the per cent distribution of full-time employees were compiled with reference to November, according to levels of earnings and by economic activity. Statistics on the structure of total earnings (in per cent of total) were also available as part of the statistics on the structure of labour cost, classified by branch of economic activity.

Article 11. Statistics of labour costs. Annual averages of hourly labour cost from enterprises’ reports, relating to 2008, have been transmitted to the ILO for publication in the 2009 Yearbook.

The Committee encourages the Government to continue to supplying information on any development concerning the extent to which effect is given to Articles 10 and 11.

Article 12. Consumer price indices. Even though no new information has been provided in response to the Committee’s previous request, the Committee notes that data on consumer price indices were received at the ILO in reply to the questionnaires for publication in the 2009 edition of the Yearbook of Labour Statistics and Bulletin. The latest data published by the ILO refers to May 2010. In view of the fact that the requirements of this provision appear to be fulfilled, the Committee encourages the Government to consider the possibility of accepting the related obligations and to keep the ILO informed in this regard.

Article 13. Statistics of household income and expenditure. The Committee notes that the Government continues to provide information on development of household income and expenditure statistics as well as some results from the annual surveys carried out between 2001 and 2008.

Methodological information and results of the 2003 Household Budget Survey have been supplied by the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan for dissemination in the ILO Sources and Methods, Volume 6: Household Income and Expenditure Statistics and in the ILO database on Household Income and Expenditure Statistics. The Committee also notes that the results of the survey together with the methodological information are disseminated on the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan website at http://www.azstat.org/
statinfo/budget_households/en/index.shtml. The Committee invites again the Government to consider the possibility of accepting the obligations in respect of this article as it appears to be applied.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries. The Committee notes the statistical information about occupational injuries in 2008 provided by the Government. It observes that data on cases of occupational injury with lost of workdays by economic activity (fatal, non-fatal and total) as well as rates of occupational injuries (fatal and non-fatal) have been regularly supplied to the ILO Department of Statistics for publication in successive editions of the Yearbook of Labour Statistics. The latest figures relate to 2008, while the latest data on the number of days lost by economic activity relate to 1998 (article 5).

Methodological information has been supplied by the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan for publication in the ILO Sources and Methods, Volume 9 – Transition Countries, which is also disseminated on LABORSTA. The Government is invited to consider the possibility of accepting this article as it appears to be applied, at least in part, provided that the following information is supplied: the international standards and guidelines taken into account when the concepts, definitions and methodology used for these statistics were designed, as requested in Article 2; the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers were consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used for these statistics were designed, as requested in Article 3; the title and reference number of the principal publication in which the statistics appear, as requested in Article 5; and the title and reference number of the principal publication which contains a detailed methodological descriptions article, as requested in Article 6. The relevant publications should be sent to the ILO and the website addresses also be provided.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Government’s report does not provide any information regarding application of this article. No new statistics on industrial disputes have been provided since those for 1990 for publication in the ILO Yearbook of Labour Statistics and dissemination on the ILO statistical website (http://laborsta.ilo.org). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the ILO informed in due course of any developments concerning the extent to which effect may be given to this Article in the future.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the information therein in reply to its previous request. It asks the Government to supply in its next report supplementary information concerning the following points.

1. Article 3 of the Convention. Consultation of employers’ and workers’ organizations. With reference to its previous requests on the same subject, the Committee again asks the Government to describe the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted in designing or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology used in the compilation of the statistics required under Articles 7, 8 and 9 of the Convention.

2. Article 5. Communication of statistics to the ILO. Please supply the ILO with estimates on employment and unemployment (Article 7) as well as data derived from the most recent population census (Article 8).

3. Article 7. Concepts, definitions and methodology. Please describe the concepts, definitions and methodology used in the Survey on the active population, 2003, in particular specifying the manner in which they are adapted to the International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities (ISIC).

4. Article 16, paragraphs 3 and 4. Obligations not accepted. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on any new measures for compiling statistics on wage structure and distribution (Article 10), labour cost (Article 11) and industrial disputes (Article 15). The Committee notes, furthermore, with interest that statistics are compiled on consumer prices, household expenditure and occupational injury and diseases which would tend to give effect to the provisions of Articles 12, 13 and 14 of the Convention. It invites the Government to specify in its next report whether it envisages accepting the obligations inherent in these three Articles.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the Government’s report and requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. In the absence of reply to its previous request, the Committee once again asks the Government to state, concerning Articles 7, 8 and 9 (in particular, with regard to the labour force survey programme mentioned under Article 7), the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used are designed or revised.

Article 7. Regarding the planned labour force survey described in the previous reports, the Committee notes the suspension of this survey, due essentially to financial reasons, despite the 1995 pilot survey.

The Committee asks the Government to state whether it is expected that the latest standards and guidelines such as the ILO occupational classification (International Standard Classification of Occupations, ISCO-88) and UN industrial classification (International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities, ISIC-Rev. 3) will be followed (in accordance with Article 2) and if not, why.

Article 8. The Committee notes that according to the available information, this Article can now be considered as partially applied. However, it draws the attention of the Government to the obligations of Article 5 concerning the communication to the ILO of data derived from the latest census. In this regard, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the requirement under Article 2 to take into consideration the existing international classifications (ISIC-Rev. 2 or ISIC-Rev. 3; ISCO-68 or ISCO-88 and the International Standard Classification of Status in Employment, ISCE-1993) in classifying the data, including those to be sent to the ILO.

Article 9, paragraph 1. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on the measures taken or envisaged to extend the compilation of statistics of average earnings to the distinction by sex. It also notes that there is some inconsistency in the economic classification of the data on average earnings, some data being classified under ISIC-Rev. 2 (by economic activity), with others (in manufacturing, by industry group) under ISIC-Rev. 3. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to this inconsistency, and asks the Government to state whether ISIC-3 has been fully adopted. It hopes that the relevant statistics, including those communicated to the ILO, will follow, as far as possible, the same classification.

The Committee further asks the Government: (i) to confirm whether statistics of average hours of work are actually compiled through the regular labour reports (and not only through the October survey); and (ii) where relevant, to communicate to the ILO the corresponding statistics (in accordance with Article 5) and the relevant methodological information (in accordance with Article 6).

Article 9, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that the October survey of occupational wages and hours of work appears to collect data on both wage rates and earnings, as well as normal hours of work and hours actually worked by occupation, for full-time employees on full rates of pay. Some methodological information was communicated to the ILO. However, as it is still not clear whether the corresponding statistics which have been transmitted to the ILO (for publication in the October Inquiry Results) refer to average wage rates or to average earnings, the Committee asks the Government to clarify this point.

Article 16. The Committee notes the information in respect of Articles 10 to 15, obligations under which have not been accepted. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information regarding the law and practice on the statistics covered by Articles 10 to 15 and any development concerning the extent to which effect is given to these Articles, and also to supply any available statistics and the relevant methodological information in accordance with Article 16, paragraph 4. It is for the purpose of clarifying the extent to which effect is already given to them, that the Committee is making the following remarks on some of these Articles:

Article 12. The Committee requests the Government to clarify the situation concerning the population coverage and sample size of the survey, and also to give the title and reference of the national publication which contains the detailed methodological description of the CPI series (base 1993=100) published in the ILO Bulletin and Yearbook of Labour Statistics.

Article 13. The Committee asks the Government to clarify the situation concerning the population coverage and sample size of the survey.

Article 14. The Committee takes note of the methodological information supplied to the ILO by the State Statistical Committee with respect to statistics of occupational injuries and requests information concerning their coverage in terms of economic activities. It notes that, although Azerbaijan did not accept the obligations of this Article at the time of ratification, it would seem that it is being applied. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the possibility, in accordance with Article 16, paragraph 3, of accepting the obligations of Article 14.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the Government's report and requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. In the absence of reply to its previous request, the Committee once again asks the Government to state, concerning Articles 7, 8 and 9 (in particular, with regard to the labour force survey programme mentioned under Article 7), the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used are designed or revised.

Article 7. Regarding the planned labour force survey described in the previous reports, the Committee notes the suspension of this survey, due essentially to financial reasons, despite the 1995 pilot survey.

The Committee asks the Government to state whether it is expected that the latest standards and guidelines such as the ILO occupational classification (International Standard Classification of Occupations, ISCO-88) and UN industrial classification (International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities, ISIC-Rev. 3) will be followed (in accordance with Article 2) and if not, why.

Article 8. The Committee notes that according to the available information, this Article can now be considered as partially applied. However, it draws the attention of the Government to the obligations of Article 5 concerning the communication to the ILO of data derived from the latest census. In this regard, the Committee draws the Government's attention to the requirement under Article 2 to take into consideration the existing international classifications (ISIC-Rev. 2 or ISIC-Rev. 3; ISCO-68 or ISCO-88 and the International Standard Classification of Status in Employment, ISCE-1993) in classifying the data, including those to be sent to the ILO.

Article 9, paragraph 1. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on the measures taken or envisaged to extend the compilation of statistics of average earnings to the distinction by sex. It also notes that there is some inconsistency in the economic classification of the data on average earnings, some data being classified under ISIC-Rev. 2 (by economic activity), with others (in manufacturing, by industry group) under ISIC-Rev. 3. The Committee draws the Government's attention to this inconsistency, and asks the Government to state whether ISIC-3 has been fully adopted. It hopes that the relevant statistics, including those communicated to the ILO, will follow, as far as possible, the same classification.

The Committee further asks the Government: (i) to confirm whether statistics of average hours of work are actually compiled through the regular labour reports (and not only through the October survey); and (ii) where relevant, to communicate to the ILO the corresponding statistics (in accordance with Article 5) and the relevant methodological information (in accordance with Article 6).

Article 9, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that the October survey of occupational wages and hours of work appears to collect data on both wage rates and earnings, as well as normal hours of work and hours actually worked by occupation, for full-time employees on full rates of pay. Some methodological information was communicated to the ILO. However, as it is still not clear whether the corresponding statistics which have been transmitted to the ILO (for publication in the October Inquiry Results) refer to average wage rates or to average earnings, the Committee asks the Government to clarify this point.

Article 16. The Committee notes the information in respect of Articles 10 to 15, obligations under which have not been accepted. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information regarding the law and practice on the statistics covered by Articles 10 to 15 and any development concerning the extent to which effect is given to these Articles, and also to supply any available statistics and the relevant methodological information in accordance with Article 16, paragraph 4. It is for the purpose of clarifying the extent to which effect is already given to them, that the Committee is making the following remarks on some of these Articles:

Article 12. The Committee requests the Government to clarify the situation concerning the population coverage and sample size of the survey, and also to give the title and reference of the national publication which contains the detailed methodological description of the CPI series (base 1993=100) published in the ILO Bulletin and Yearbook of Labour Statistics.

Article 13. The Committee asks the Government to clarify the situation concerning the population coverage and sample size of the survey.

Article 14. The Committee takes note of the methodological information supplied to the ILO by the State Statistical Committee with respect to statistics of occupational injuries and requests information concerning their coverage in terms of economic activities. It notes that, although Azerbaijan did not accept the obligations of this Article at the time of ratification, it would seem that it is being applied. The Committee draws the Government's attention to the possibility, in accordance with Article 16, paragraph 3, of accepting the obligations of Article 14.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes the Government's report and requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. In the absence of reply to its previous request, the Committee again asks the Government to state, concerning Articles 7, 8 and 9 (in particular, with regard to the labour force survey programme mentioned under Article 7), the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used are designed or revised.

Article 7. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the latest standards are followed as required under Article 2 in conducting the labour force survey. The relevant standards include the resolutions on "Economically active population", "International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO 88)" and "International Classification by Status in Employment (ICSE 93)", adopted respectively by the 13th, 14th and 15th International Conferences of Labour Statisticians (ICLS). It also asks the Government to continue to supply published statistics and methodological information to the ILO, in accordance with Articles 5 and 6, concerning the labour force survey as well as the employment and unemployment data derived from the other sources.

Article 8. The Committee notes that, according to the Government's report, a population census is planned for January 1999. It asks the Government to provide detailed information about the census, in particular regarding the international standards and guidelines followed (in accordance with Article 2), and to send to the ILO published statistics and methodological information (in accordance with Articles 5 and 6), when they are available.

Article 9, paragraph 1. The Committee notes that statistics of hours actually worked are now collected and compiled through the October survey of occupational wages and hours of work. These statistics are classified by industry and occupation and in the case of a few occupations, by sex. However, it appears that the coverage of the October survey (in terms of industries and employees) differs from the coverage of the current (monthly) statistics of average earnings collected through administrative reports. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on measures taken or envisaged: (i) to extend the compilation of statistics of average earnings and hours of work to the distinction by sex; (ii) to publish a detailed description of the concepts, definitions and methodology used, and to communicate them to the ILO in accordance with Article 6.

Article 9, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that the survey of occupational wages and hours of work was introduced in 1996 and repeated in 1997, with reference to the month of October of each year. It appears to collect data on both wage rates and earnings, as well as normal hours of work and hours actually worked by occupation, for full-time employees on full rates of pay. The Committee asks the Government to publish a detailed description of the methodology used for this survey, and in particular its scope and coverage in terms of geographical areas, economic activities and occupations, the survey method (sample survey or administrative reports filled in by all registered establishments) and estimation procedure -- and also to communicate this information to the ILO in accordance with Article 6.

Article 16, paragraph 4. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the law and practice on the statistics covered by Articles 10 to 15 and any development concerning the extent to which effect is given to these Articles, and to supply any available statistics and the relevant methodological information.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

The Committee notes the Government's first report and requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to state, concerning Articles 7, 8 and 9 (in particular, with regard to the labour force survey programme mentioned under Article 7), the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used are designed or revised.

Article 7. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the latest standards are followed as required under Article 2 in conducting the labour force survey. The relevant standards include the resolutions on "Economically active population", "International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88)" and "International Classification by Status in Employment (ICSE-93)", adopted respectively by the 13th, 14th and 15th International Conferences of Labour Statisticians (ICLS). It also asks the Government to supply methodological information to the ILO, in accordance with Article 6, concerning the labour force survey as well as the employment and unemployment data derived from the other sources.

Article 8. The Committee draws the Government's attention to the obligations under this Article to compile statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population through a population census. It asks the Government to state whether a census is envisaged, and if so, to provide detailed information about it.

Article 9. (1) The national programme. The Committee notes the national programme of labour statistics attached to the report, which provides a workplan for the development or improvement of wages statistics. It asks the Government to indicate (in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention) the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers have been or will be consulted, in particular, when developing a programme of statistics of wages and hours of work (point 9 of the workplan) and when designing the concepts, definitions and methodology of the occupational survey (point 15).

(2) The Committee notes that statistics of average earnings are compiled in compliance with the basic requirements of Article 9, paragraph 1. It asks the Government to supply information on measures taken or envisaged: (i) to compile statistics of hours of work (hours actually worked or hours paid for) according to the international guidelines such as Recommendation No. 170, Paragraph 3(1) and (2); (ii) to extend the compilation of statistics of average earnings to the distinction by sex; (iii) to communicate the published statistics to the ILO as soon as practicable in accordance with Article 5; and (iv) to publish a detailed description of the concepts, definitions and methodology used, and to communicate them to the ILO in accordance with Article 6.

(3) The Committee notes that statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work, covered by Article 9, paragraph 2, do not seem to be compiled. It asks the Government to indicate whether it is envisaged to compile such statistics, and if it is not the case, to state the reasons. It notes however that, according to point 15 of the above-mentioned workplan, it is envisaged to conduct a sample survey of occupational wages and hours of work in October each year. The Committee asks the Government to indicate any new developments in this regard and to supply more information on the type of statistics to be derived from this survey (occupational wage rates or earnings, normal hours of work, hours actually worked or hours paid for).

(4) With reference to Article 2, according to which ILO standards and guidelines should be taken into consideration, the Committee recalls that traditionally the statistics compiled by Central and Eastern European countries, including Azerbaijan, have differed in concepts, methodology and classifications from similar data available in market economy countries. It asks the Government to indicate: (i) what steps have been taken, if any, in accordance with point 9 of the above workplan, to revise concepts, definitions and methods of statistics of wages and hours of work, in conformity with the ILO guidelines such as the resolution concerning an integrated system of wages statistics (adopted by the 12th ICLS in 1973); and (ii) whether the Government envisages to adapt the industrial classification to ISIC, Rev.2, 1968 or Rev.3, 1990.

Article 16, paragraph 4. The Committee notes with interest that the Government's report also contains information on the Articles which were not accepted at the time of ratification. It has in particular noted the following: that regarding Article 10, statistics on the structure of earnings are available, which gives partial effect to this Article; that, as to Article 11, the above-mentioned workplan provides for the development of the concept and definition of labour cost and the design of a labour cost survey, in 1994-96.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to indicate the law and practice on the statistics covered by Articles 10 to 15 and any development concerning the extent to which effect is given to these Articles, and to supply any available statistics and the relevant methodological information.