Enhancing cooperation among the Prague Process states

Determination of the Demand for Foreign Labour Force in the Labour Market of Azerbaijan

3 December 2018

Studies

Following the conclusions and recommendations of the assessment report ‘Review of legal and labour migration mechanisms in the Republic of Azerbaijan’2 (produced in October 2016) within the Component 2 of the project the current study looks into the determination of the demand for foreign labour force in the labour market of Azerbaijan. In this way, the ultimate aim of the study is to provide an analytical basis for strengthening the management of labour migration in the Republic of Azerbaijan by taking into account needs and interests of national economy, as well as good practices of other countries.

The Republic of Azerbaijan has been using a quota system for labour migrants entitled to come and work in the country in order to manage labour migration alongside with established rather exceptional cases when work permits are not required3. The foreign labour quota system is regulated by the Rules of establishment of labour migration quota that were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The MOBILAZE project partners in Azerbaijan, including the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population (MLSPP) and the State Migration Service (SMS), expressed a need and an interest to analyse the labour migration quota system, establish its effectiveness and suggest options for its improvement and/ or alternative ways for determination of the foreign labour demand at the national labour market.

The concept of the study has been jointly developed by ICMPD and the MLSPP. The study strives to analyse the labour market in Azerbaijan and vectors of the country’s economic development; the migration situation in Azerbaijan, profile of a labour migrant in the country; as well as main tools for labour migration management, to be precise the current foreign labour quota system and the labour market test. The experiences of other countries in managing labour migration have also been analysed. Based on the research conducted in these areas the study suggests proposals for revision of the current labour migration management system to enhance its efficiency.

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Authors

Dr Melissa Siegel is a Professor of Migration Studies and Head of Migration Studies at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, Katrin Marchand is a Ph.D. Fellow at UNU-MERIT/Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, Ilkin Nazarov is an Azerbaijani expert specialising in analysis of labour markets, employment, occupational standards and regional development, Violeta Wagner, MOBILAZE Project Manager, Ekaterina Belukova, MOBILAZE Junior Project Officer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission of the copyright owners. This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of ICMPD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.