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In Azerbaijan, women remain significantly underrepresented in
key sectors of the economy, with only 17 per cent of the workforce
employed in transport and storage, 11 per cent in energy, and 8 per
cent in construction.
Azernews reports that this was stated by Saida
Bagirli, Chief Operations Specialist at the World Bank’s Azerbaijan
Office, at the “Leadership Achievements in Promoting Work and
Career Development of Women in Azerbaijan” event.
Saida Bagirli highlighted the persistent gender disparities in
these critical sectors. She pointed out that women hold a
disproportionately small share of managerial and technical roles in
these fields, contributing to a notable gender pay gap. On average,
women in Azerbaijan earn approximately 35 per cent less than their
male counterparts.
Bagirli also noted that Azerbaijan has made significant strides
in addressing these barriers. “In late 2022, with support from the
World Bank’s analytical work, Azerbaijan took an important step by
lifting gender-based legal restrictions on women’s employment,” she
said. “In 2023, for the first time, women were granted the right to
work night shifts, further dismantling long-standing gender-based
limitations in the workplace.”
Despite these advances, challenges remain, particularly in
industries such as transport, energy, and construction, where
gender inequality continues to persist. However, Azerbaijan has
made notable progress in reducing gender disparities in these
traditionally male-dominated sectors, with the World Bank playing a
pivotal role in supporting these efforts through its Gender
Advisory Services program. This initiative is implemented under the
EU-funded Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility
(AZTAF).
The AZTAF program has been instrumental in assisting the
Azerbaijani government in addressing gender-based occupational
segregation. This has been achieved through labor code reforms and
partnerships with public enterprises, such as Azerbaijan Railways
and Baku Port, which were selected as pilot organizations to reduce
gender gaps in the workforce.
A key development at the event was the presentation of a new
report titled “Eliminating Obstacles to Women’s Employment in
Azerbaijan”, prepared by the World Bank within the framework of the
AZTAF program. The report draws on in-depth gender assessments of
Azerbaijan Railways and the Port of Baku, focusing on the barriers
women face in recruitment, inclusion, career advancement, and
leadership opportunities.
The report highlights several critical areas for policymakers
and employers to focus on in order to increase women’s
participation in technical fields and promote equal employment
opportunities. Key recommendations include fostering inclusive
workplaces, addressing gender biases in recruitment and promotion
processes, and implementing policies to support women’s career
development.
These recommendations are not only relevant to Azerbaijan but
also offer valuable insights for other countries seeking to improve
gender equality in traditionally male-dominated industries. The
report presents best practices from Azerbaijan, outlines key
progress indicators, and provides actionable recommendations for
both public and private sectors.
In conjunction with the report, the event featured the launch of
a new online training course, titled “Labor Safety, Health, and
Violence: A Gender Perspective”, developed under the AZTAF program.
Available in both English and Azerbaijani, the course aims to raise
awareness of gender-related risks in the workplace and promote new
approaches to safety, health, and discrimination. It is designed
for a wide range of stakeholders, including business leaders,
industry professionals, workers, and government officials.
By providing targeted training and fostering inclusive policies,
Azerbaijan is working toward creating a more equitable and
supportive environment for women in the workforce. The continued
collaboration between the World Bank, the European Union, and the
Azerbaijani government signals a strong commitment to breaking down
barriers and ensuring that women can fully participate in the
nation’s economic growth.
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