Labour legislation prohibits any direct or indirect discrimination between employees in employment relations on the grounds of citizenship, sex, race, religion, ethnic origin, language, place of residence, property status, origin, age, marital status and family responsibilities, beliefs, as well as on any other grounds unrelated to the employee’s professional qualities, professional competence, or the results of their work.

An employer or other individual who discriminates between employees on any of the above-mentioned grounds shall be held liable in accordance with the procedure established by law. Employers must provide employees performing the same work with equal working conditions, regardless of their sex, and ensure equal pay for employees performing the same work or work of equal value. They must also refrain from applying different disciplinary measures to employees for the same violation and take the necessary measures to prevent discrimination on the grounds of sex.

Except in cases established by law, it is prohibited to refuse to conclude an employment contract with a person with a disability, refuse to promote them, terminate their employment contract, or transfer them to another job, profession, or position without their consent on the grounds of their disability.

Except for professions and positions in which persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are prohibited from working, it is prohibited to refuse to employ, promote, or dismiss a person on the grounds of their HIV infection. It is also prohibited to refuse to conclude an employment contract with a person or terminate their employment contract on the grounds that they have multiple sclerosis, except where the employer does not have a suitable job or position available, or where employment of such persons is prohibited at the relevant workplace.

The establishment of benefits, privileges, and additional guarantees in employment relations for women, persons with disabilities, employees with family responsibilities, persons under the age of 18 and other persons in need of social protection, as well as specialists working in the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation, shall not be considered discrimination.

It should be noted that the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has declared 21 August to 21 September as the “Peace Month.” The purpose of the initiative is to raise public awareness of the interrelationship between peace and human rights, strengthen an environment of mutual respect and trust in society, expand opportunities for dialogue and understanding, and encourage the participation of government bodies, local self-government authorities, civil society institutions, and the general public in activities carried out in this area.

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