Azerbaijan, Baku/ Trend , corr. E. Husseynli/ Mirvari Gahramanli, the Head of the Public Union for the Organization of Protection of the Interests of Rights of Oil Industry Workers of the Country, told journalists during a press-conference that a total of 830 complaints have been received from persons, who were employed in companies engaged in the oil sector in last year and the first quarter of 2007.
According to Ms. Gahramanli, the complaints are mainly linked to the companies deliberately breaking employee labour rights, not insuring employees who working in dangerous and unsafe conditions, companies who cover-up their violations in order to avoid legal battles, etc. Ms. Gahramanli said that in the reporting period, over 10,000 employees had been fired from foreign companies operating in Azerbaijan. Only 300 employees were discharged from SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan). Due to SOCAR's structural reforms, another 500 employees have received warnings. Due to the violation of their rights, thirty-five oilmen have made official and legal complaints. The complaints of the six oilmen, who appealed in court, were ruled with four returning to their jobs, one was a lethal case, and the last one received labor protection.