The course was delivered within the framework of the ILO’s Technical Cooperation Project “Partnerships for Youth Employment in the CIS” financially supported by the LUKOIL Company and implemented by the ILO Moscow Office.

Senior officials and representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population, the Trade Unions Confederation (ATUC), the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers') Organisations (AEK), the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Policy, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), as well as external experts, participated in the event.

In his welcoming address, Salim Muslumov, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population, emphasized that the 2016–2020 Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) adopted in September 2016 sets a number of targets in accordance with the national social and economic policy priorities. He said; “The Decent Work Country Programme and the training courses organized in cooperation with the ILO open up new opportunities for sharing experience and ideas, with a view of creating a modern labour market based on innovation and inclusiveness."

Hadi Rajabli, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Policy, particularly welcomed the opportunity to learn from best international practices of PES operation and labour market regulation.

Sattar Mehbaliyev, Chairman of the ATUC, noted that the DWCP and related activities opened up new opportunities for an inclusive labour market, more decent jobs for youth, and for implementing some of the best international solutions in the national context.

According to Mammad Musayev, President of the AEC, employers are actively involved in the implementation of the country’s labour market and employment policies. He emphasised the importance of effective cooperation between employers and PES for better labour market outcomes and social dialogue.

Mikhail Pouchkin, ILO official, stressed the importance of `strengthening PES capacity in the current socioeconomic context of Azerbaijan, linking it to the DWCP and the national strategic documents.

The PES course combining theory and interactive assignments covered a broad range of topics, such as an overview of PES, its key target groups and service models; active labour market programmes, including those targeting youth and vulnerable groups; labour market information systems, and other relevant issues. These topics were presented by Julia Surina, ILO official, as well as  ILO international experts  Yuriy Gertsiy and  Jens Sibbersen.

A presentation by Michael Mwasikakata, ILO HQ Senior PES Specialist, of the ILO international labour standards concerning employment services in the context of a comprehensive employment policy framework, complemented the course.
This training course was the first in a comprehensive package of training activities for national PES that will be offered to the tripartite constituents in Azerbaijan; two other training sessions for PES officials are scheduled for 2017.