Azeri Labor Unions Confederation offers to align minimum wage with monthly average

At the first phase, the amount of social assistance should equal minimum monthly salary and minimum salary should reach average monthly salary, Confederation Officer Chingiz Taghiyev told APA.

Azerbaijan has joined Europe Social Charter and as per the document, the minimum salary or wage should be equal to average monthly pay. As of January 1, the average monthly salary was AZN 160.6 in Azerbaijan, he said.

Taghiyev also said that social assistance per capita is AZN 35 and this amount is expected to reach AZN 40 by July 1.

Confederation says the energy prices hike make necessary reconsideration of subsistence level. The subsistence wage was set at AZN 64 in the 2007 State Budget discussed in December, 2006.

The utilities and transport expenses in the consumer basket jumped 64% following the recent price increase and inflation was 17% in January.