Azerbaijan, Baku, July 13 /Trend A.Hasanov/
One of the main objectives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Azerbaijan is to simplify the process of granting social benefits, the department's Minister Fizuli Alekperov said during an extended board meeting devoted to the results of the first half of 2012 on Friday.
"We are simplifying the process of issuing social benefits and in particular providing for those families who do not have the potential to improve welfare in connection with disabilities relating to the head of family, the presence of three or more children and other factors," the minister said. "These families do not have to annually update the targeted social assistance and should be provided with social benefits for life."
Alekperov noted that the priority is the implementation of measures to specify the plan for reform in the provision of targeted social assistance in the activities of medical and social expertise and other areas.
"All the activities of ministries should be reviewed and brought into conformity with certain standards," the minister said.
Alekperov noted that the currently existing mechanism for providing targeted social assistance is a very effective tool to ensure social protection and poverty alleviation in the country.
"A very important issue is that the population is accustomed to getting 'easy money' and we believe that we should be more principled in this issue. Those who have the potential must be provided with jobs," the minister said.
He noted that the first steps in this direction have already been undertaken in the framework of an alternative mechanism for delivering targeted social assistance (TSA), namely the project 'Self-help'.
Alekperov noted that 49 per cent of those receiving social aid are large families and an active control must be carried out over the 25-30 per cent of the family beneficiaries of TSA, because they can be attracted to the programme of 'Self-help'.
"At the same time, retirees must be provided by targeted social assistance for life because they have no way to do business," the minister added.
The minister considered the problem with his staff who prescribes targeted social assistance and the results of inspections on this issue will be announced in September.
"If negative facts are revealed and there is evidence of exceeding authority in connection with the appointment of benefits, all data will be transmitted to the law enforcement agencies and employees who were involved in this process will be immediately dismissed," Alekperov said.