H.E. Mrs. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, Director General of SESRIC, met with H.E. Mr. Sahil Rafiq Oğlu BABAYEV, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 2 May 2023, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The meeting took place alongside the 8^th Meeting of the Coordination Committee on Tourism.

As part of their visit, the SESRIC delegation first visited the DOST Center for Inclusive Development and Creativity, which operates under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Azerbaijan to develop the creative potential of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

H.E. Mrs. SELÇUK engaged with the Center’s teachers and participants, discussing the various skill development and vocational training activities provided to foster inclusiveness among vulnerable groups.

Following the DOST Center visit, a bilateral meeting was held between H.E. Mrs. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK and H.E. Mr. Sahil Rafiq Oğlu BABAYEV at Baku DOST Center No. 1. The Minister’s delegation included representatives from various agencies and departments involved in labour and social protection. Mrs. SELÇUK expressed her gratitude for the warm reception and valuable insights gained during the visit to the DOST Center for Inclusive Development and Creativity and the DOST Agency.

H.E. Mrs. SELÇUK provided an overview of SESRIC’s work in the domain of labour, including capacity-building programmes and networks such as the OIC Occupational Safety and Health Network (OIC-OSHNET) and the OIC Public Employment Services (OIC-PESNET). She emphasized that these networks foster collaboration among OIC Member Countries for knowledge sharing, joint initiatives, projects, and programs.

During the meeting, presentations on the “DOST Concept” and “E-Services” were delivered, highlighting the Ministry’s innovative approaches to improving population well-being, increasing care for vulnerable groups, and utilizing information and communication technologies (ICTs) for service delivery.

H.E. Mr. Sahil BABAYEV discussed the reforms and achievements in the labour and social protection domain in Azerbaijan, the DOST concept, and the extensive application of innovative solutions in the social field. He also outlined the functions and activities of the National Observatory for Labor Market and Social Protection Affairs, which assesses the labor market and social protection areas, monitors development trends, and produces analyses and projections for informed decision-making.

Both parties expressed their desire to establish closer cooperation in labour, employment, and social protection and to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize the collaboration between their institutions.

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