BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 15. Azerbaijan has officially joined the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) with the technical support of the International Labour Organization (ILO), reaffirming its commitment to closing the gender pay gap and ensuring equal pay for work of equal value, TurkicWorld reports.
Led by the ILO in partnership with UN Women and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), EPIC brings together governments, employers, workers and other stakeholders to advance equal pay for women and men. The coalition currently comprises 73 member organizations from countries around the world.
Through its membership, Azerbaijan will receive coordinated expert assistance and access to international best practices aimed at strengthening national efforts to reduce pay disparities, improve pay transparency and enhance the enforcement of equal pay legislation.
Azerbaijan has already adopted equal pay legislation and ratified the ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), which obliges states to apply the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value through national laws, wage-setting mechanisms and social dialogue.
Joining EPIC also strengthens Azerbaijan’s alignment with international labour standards and contributes to progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth and Goal 5 on gender equality. The cooperation is expected to support ongoing labour market reforms and promote social dialogue in the country.
