Today, December 26, marks the founding day of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population.
The Ministry began its activities 107 years ago, on December 26, 1918, as the Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Labour. During that period, it implemented a number of measures related to the payment of wages and allowances, formalisation of labour relations, and other labour-related issues.
Currently, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population is the central executive authority responsible for implementing state policy in the areas of labour, employment, social protection, social insurance, demography, medical-social expertise and rehabilitation, adoption, and foster care.
As a result of the special attention and care of National Leader Heydar Aliyev towards the social protection sphere, a strong social policy of independent Azerbaijan was formed and the social protection system has been consistently strengthened. This policy is being successfully continued and developed by President Ilham Aliyev, achieving significant progress in ensuring citizens’ welfare. The Ministry carries out targeted work to strengthen social protection and expand active employment programmes.
In line with presidential directives, five social reform packages were implemented during 2018–2025. These reforms covered more than 4 million citizens, with an additional 7.6 billion manats allocated annually. As a result, since 2018, the minimum pension has increased nearly three times, from 110 manats to 320 manats, while the minimum wage increased 3.1 times, from 130 manats to 400 manats. The wage fund grew 3.2 times, and annual funding for social benefits and allowances increased fivefold.
Active employment programmes have also been expanded. In the first 11 months of this year, more than 530 thousand people were involved in active employment programmes, including 16.5 thousand people who established small family businesses through the self-employment programme.
Within the World Bank–supported “Employment Support Project”, which promotes access of vulnerable groups to small business opportunities, 26.7 thousand people have already been involved. Under the project’s 2026–2029 Phase II, an additional 30 thousand people will be provided with equipment to establish small businesses in production and service sectors.
Active employment programmes are also being implemented in close cooperation with employers to ensure employment for citizens resettled to their native lands under the “Great Return” Programme.
By Presidential Decree, the DOST Agency was established under the Ministry in May 2019. Since then, 7 DOST Centres, 1 DOST branch, 1 Smart DOST, and 2 DOST points have been opened in Baku and regions. Based on the DOST concept initiated by First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, 160 social services are provided through a “single window” system in a modern, transparent, and flexible manner. More than 4 million people have received services at DOST centres, with a citizen satisfaction rate of 98.7 percent.
Following the Patriotic War, the Ministry implemented a large-scale social support package for families of martyrs and war participants. As of 1 November 2025, 406 thousand services were provided to 132 thousand unique individuals. During the post-war period, 6.9 thousand apartments and 567 vehicles were provided to persons with war-related disabilities, fully covering the waiting list. Overall, nearly 16 thousand apartments and 7.7 thousand vehicles have been provided to eligible beneficiaries.
More than 90 percent of the Ministry’s services are now delivered electronically, including proactive services. The e-social portal, launched in 2019, serves as the country’s social registry, allowing citizens access to all their social data. The “Labour and Employment” subsystem, launched in 2022, enables full digitalisation of labour relations and digital HR management.
Internationally, Azerbaijan’s labour, employment, and social protection reforms are highly recognised. In the first 11 months of this year alone, the Ministry received more than 70 international awards and certificates. For the third consecutive year, the Ministry ranked first in the ASAN Service Index for public services.
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