Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y Social field Development of social sectors Education Science Public Health Culture Tourism Sport 1 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y Development of social sectors Improvement of social protection of population is one of the matters that are under attention of the government. The Decree signed by National Leader Mr. Haydar Aliyev, dated 17 July 2001 about adoption of the reforms on pensions in the Republic of Azerbaijan covering 2001-2005 years considered stage-by-stage realization of these reforms. According to the concept since 2001, the different changes and additions have been made to the Laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan on „Provision with pensions of the population‟ and „Social insurance‟. During this period, necessary steps were made for correspondence of insurance-pension system to modern standards and different activities directed to applying of insurance principles for provision of population with pensions were implemented. Moreover, according to the Laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Provision with pensions of the population ‟and„ Social insurance adopted on 2006 the types, structure of pensions was changed, and social pensions were substituted by social allowances. For the state of 1 January 2011 there were registered 1292.2 thousand pensioners, average amount of fixed monthly pensions reached to 112.9 manats and made 34.7 percent of average monthly wage and salaries. By the purpose of improvement of welfare of the population of the country as well as strengthening of social protection of the poor families since 2007 according to corresponding orders of the President of the Republic the amount of main part of labor pension for age and social benefits is being increased and insurance part of pensions is indexed based on level of inflation. There were 297.2 thousand persons receiving fixed monthly social benefits and 101.1 thousand persons receiving lump sum allowance for the state of 1 January of the current year according to data of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population. These benefits were granted due to childbirth, treatment of disabled in the result of radiation accident, funeral benefit and persons from prisons. At the beginning of the current year 33.7 thousand persons received grants that assigned to persons rendered great services for the Republic of Azerbaijan. Since 1 July 2006, poor families were being granted with addressed state social aid according to Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on „Addressed state social aid‟ and 552.5 thousand persons from 123 thousand families were covered with addressed state social aid for the state of 1 January 2011. The stable growth rate observed in the economy of the country during last century provided social development of the country, created conditions for improvement of living condition of the population, opening of new job places and increasing of employment. Formation of market economy relations, as well as development of entrepreneurship activity, creation of business environment gives possibility to develop labor market and employment. Provision of population with employment by using labor force is a main goal of the “Employment Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2006-2015)” confirmed by Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 26 October 2005 №1068. Based on results of different researches 4329.1 thousand persons were engaged in economy during 2010 and 31.7 percent of which made hired workers. While 18.3 per cent of hired workers engaged in industrial and 81.7 per cent in non-industrial sector in 1993 then number of hired workers, engaging in production field during 2010 has increased by 20.4 per cent in the result of creation and functioning of new large and medium production enterprises. The scale and intensity of changes in distribution of employment in state and non-state sector during last years is explained with increasing of share of employment from 43.9 percent in 1993 to 73.6 percent in 2010. The share of employment in organizations with foreign investment during 2010 has increased by 10 times compared to 1995, so this fact confirms integration of the country‟s economy to world economy. 2 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y Taking into account an existing situation in labor market there were done certain activities by the state employment services for provision of unemployed and persons seeking a job with social protection. The „labor fairs‟ and different courses have been carried out by Head Employment Office of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population for involving of unemployed and persons seeking a job. In the result of which during 2003-2010 212.9 thousand persons seeking a job were provided with job, 21.2 thousand persons attended training courses, 14.8 percent involved in paid social works. Successful realization of measures specified by the State Programs directed to social-economic development of the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2004-2008 and 2009-2013) provides diversification of economy of the country and creates a base for development of non-oil sector, direction of investment to priority areas, realization of modern infrastructure projects in the regions as well as operating of new industrial and manufacturing enterprises and in the result of which 913 thousand new and 655 thousand permanent job places were opened during 2004-2010 in the country. The successful social-economic policy carrying out by the President of the Republic positively affects demographic processes and 9 millionth inhabitant of the Republic of Azerbaijan was born at the beginning of 2010. Population size during 1991-2010 having increased by 1893 persons reached 9 million 111 thousand persons. 53 percent of population reside in urban places, 47 percent in rural places; 49.6 percent of inhabitants made men, 50.4 percent – women. The natural increase of population during 2010 made 112.1 thousand persons and indicator of natural increase was 12.5 per 1000 population. Life expectancy at birth being increased by 3.1 years made 73.6 years old, including boys – 70.9 years old, girls – 76.2 years old. 23 percent of population makes persons aged 0-14 years old, 71 percent – 15-64 years old, 6 percent- 65 years old and over. Youth aged 14-29 years old makes 31.4 percent of the country‟s population. 165.6 thousand Infants were born during last year and this is a higher indicator during last 16 years. There are at average 2.3 infants per woman during childbearing span. 79.2 thousand marriages were registered during 2010 in the country by official state bodies and average age limit among men marrying for the first time has made 27 years old and among women – 23 years old. Realization of the state policy for solving of the problems of youth, opening of the new job places and involving of youth in economy decreases number of youth going away in search of a living. According to record of the Ministry of Internal Affairs 2.2 thousand persons arrived to Azerbaijan during 2010 for permanent residence and 0.8 thousand persons left the country. 76.6 percent of immigrants were from Russian Federation, 7.9 percent – from Kazakhstan, 4.4 percent - from Ukraine; emigration to these countries made relatively 53.8 percent, 32.5 percent and 5.3 percent. Number of economically active population was 4589.3 thousand and 4332.6 thousand of them (94.4%) engaged in different spheres of the economic and social unit in the country for April 1, 2011. 20,5% of employees of enterprises and organizations engaged in the field of production, 2,6% at the mining industry, 5,8% at the manufacturing, 2,3% at the field of production, distribution and supply of electric power, gas and vapor, 1,7% at the water supply, waste treatment and processing area, 5,1% at the construction, 3,0% at agriculture, forest industry and fishing area. 25.8% of employees of the service workers concentrated at the field of education, 20.0% at the trade; repair of motorcycles and motor vehicles, 10.1% at the area of rendering of health and social services to the population, 4.7% at the transport and storage facilities, 4.1% at the recreation, arts and entertainment area, 4.0% at the state administration and defense; compulsory social security, 3.2% at the professional, scientific and technical activity, 1.8% at the information and communication, 1.4% at the financial and insurance activities, 1.5% at the administrative and support services, 1.3% at the tourist accommodation and catering, 0.9% at the rendering services in other areas and 0.6% at the real estate services. 3 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y The income of the country's population was amounted 721,5 AZN per capita or per month average volume was 240,5 AZN in the I quarter of 2011, that exceeds the indicator for the relevant period of 2010 by 15,3%. 69.9% of revenues were spent for final consumption, 8.1% for taxes, social insurance and payment of volunteer membership fees and 20.6% were directed to increase savings and capital.