The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Employees in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, employees are entitled to a minimum annual leave of 21 days. This entitlement progressively increases based on years of service within a single company:

• 5 -10 years of service: additional 2 extra days
• 0 - 15 years: additional 4 days
• 15 or more years: additional 6 days

Women are entitled to 126 days of maternity leave, with 70 days before the due date and 56 days after childbirth. In cases of difficult or multiple births, an additional 14 days may be granted. The State Social Protection fund fully covers maternity leave. Employment law also provides special protections for pregnant women and women with young children, including:

• No termination for pregnant women or those with a child under 3 years old.
• Reduced work week (maximum 36 hours) for pregnant women or those with a child under 18 months.
• No night shifts for pregnant women or those with a child under 3 years old.

Fathers can take 14 days of unpaid Paternity Leave following the birth of a child.

Employees are entitled to 56 days of paid sick leave per year. The employer will fully compensate employees unable to work due to sickness for the initial 14 days. Subsequently, the State Social Protection Fund takes over payments. To avail the sick pay benefit, employees must provide a medical certificate.

Azerbaijan's parental rights encompass several provisions, including additional time off if needed, with the main clauses being:

• A woman with two children under the age of 16 is entitled to 2 additional days of paid leave
• A woman with three or more children under the age of 16 is entitled to 5 days of additional paid leave
• A woman or single father with children under the age of 16 is entitled to 14 days of unpaid leave per year
• Female employees adopting children under two months of age are entitled to 56 calendar days of social leave