AZE.US
Azerbaijan may require citizens to submit a medical opinion from a state narcology institution when applying for a job, under proposed amendments to the country’s Labor Code now under discussion in parliament.
The draft law, reviewed at a plenary session of the Milli Majlis, would add a new layer of screening at the hiring stage for positions covered by Article 74 of the Labor Code.
Under the proposed changes, employers would also be allowed to send an employee for a medical examination at the employer’s own expense if there are suspicions during the course of employment.
The amendments go further than the hiring process. If it is later established that a person with a narcology-related condition was hired for a position covered by the restrictions, the employment contract could be terminated on grounds considered beyond the will of the parties. The same rule would apply if such a condition is identified during mandatory medical checks while the person is already employed.
The discussion comes amid broader public concern in Azerbaijan over drug addiction and weak oversight in some sectors. Some citizens say stricter checks were overdue, especially in jobs linked to safety and public responsibility.
Specialists cited in the discussion say the changes are intended to strengthen workplace safety and introduce an additional control mechanism into the hiring process. If adopted, the amendments would make recruitment stricter for a number of professions and positions.
AZE.US