Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Collegiate Organ of the Ministry of Labour & Social Protection of Azerbaijan has held a meeting.

At the meeting Labour Minister Fizuli Alakbarov said that now the Ministry’s priority is to realize reforms in the field of population’s social protection.

"With active measures we intend to clarify the plan of reforms in the provision of targeted social assistance (TSA), medical and social expertise and other areas. In general, all activities of the Ministry should be reviewed and brought into compliance with relevant standards," the minister said.

According to Alkabarov, the country’s existing TSA mechanism is quite effective tool for ensuring social protection as well as to reduce and liquidate poverty in the country.

"The very important problem in this regard is the fact that the population is accustomed to getting easy money, and that is why we think we should pay a more principal attention to this issue. We should try that all those who have the potential to work would be provided with employment. We’ve already begun taking the first steps in this direction, in particular within program "Self-Support". We need to pursue active policy and active measures to support removal of families out of poverty," Alakbarov said.

The minister said that the MLSPA’s is also to simplify the process of issuing allowances, in particular, some families who do not have the potential to improve well-being, due to disability of the heads of family and the presence of three or more families, should not update TSA annually, and must be provided with allowance for life.

"According to our data, currently 49% of TSA recipients are large families. TSA should also be provided for life pensioners as they do not have the capacity to engage in business or other activities for improvement of social conditions. According to our research, 25-30% of TSA receiving families should be under active supervision in order to study the possibility of their involvement in Self-Support Program,” the minister said.

In addition, it is also actual the activity of Ministry’s employees appointing TSA.

"In this regard, research is underway, and in September we will announce its results. In case any negative facts or evidence of abuse of power are revealed in connection with appointment of benefits, all the data on these officials will be transferred to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. If we detect such activities, these individuals will be immediately dismissed," Alakbarov said.

Regarding the activities of centres for medical & social expertise of disabled persons the minister said that the mechanism of benefit appointment should also be improved in this direction.

"At present, 77% of disabled persons (326,000 people) relate to group II, who rarely rehabilitate fully. So I think that undergoing of annual medical examination by such persons is unjust. It is also needed to appoint lifetime disability pension for such persons," the minister said.

13.07.2012 11:04