By AZE.US
A former employee of the Saxara beauty salon’s Blue Mall branch has alleged that she worked without an employment contract, received only half of her promised pay and was required to carry out duties unrelated to the social media position for which she was hired.
The salon’s management rejected the allegations and described them as an attempt to damage the company’s reputation, according to a report by APA TV.
The woman, whose name was not disclosed, said she was hired as an SMM specialist. She alleged that after a three-day probation period, salon representatives took her identity card and promised to formalize an employment contract, but no contract was signed.
She said she later learned that other employees at the branch also allegedly worked without formal contracts. After 15 days, she received about half of her salary through a card-to-card transfer and was then told not to return to work the following day, she said. The remainder of her pay was not provided, according to her account.
Claims of Duties Outside the Job Description
The former employee also alleged that staff did not receive a proper lunch break and were instructed to serve tea and coffee to clients, clean massage rooms, wash laundry and perform other tasks outside their stated responsibilities.
She said workers were effectively used as cleaners and servers, and alleged that management threatened her after she objected.
The woman further claimed that a lower-cost hair-care product was poured into containers bearing the Matrix brand name and then used on clients. The report did not provide independent confirmation of that allegation.
Company Rejects Allegations
Saxara Group head Sarkhan Gulamli told reporters that he was unaware of any such violations and rejected the former employee’s claims as a smear campaign. He said a company lawyer would contact the news outlet. APA TV reported that it had not received an official response from the company within four days.
The allegations have not been independently established, and no finding by a court or labor authority was cited in the report.
Consumer and Labor Concerns
Eyyub Huseynov, chairman of Azerbaijan’s Free Consumers Union, said the organization regularly receives complaints involving beauty salons. Such complaints include allegations that inexpensive products are transferred into packaging carrying well-known brand names before being used or sold at higher prices.
Azerbaijan’s State Labor Inspection Service said issues such as employing a person without a contract, failing to pay wages, violating work and rest requirements, or compelling an employee to perform duties outside their employment function may provide grounds for an inspection.
Workers seeking to report possible labor violations can contact the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection’s 142 call center, use the ministry’s electronic reception service, visit a DOST center or submit a written application.
AZE.US