As part of the 2026-2030 Employment Strategy Action Plan, Azerbaijan intends to develop a legal framework for introducing flexible working hours regime, drawing on International Labour Organization standards and international best practices.
Under the proposed model, employees would be allowed to choose their start and finish times within agreed time intervals, provided that they complete the applicable weekly working time (generally 40 hours) and remain available during designed core working hours.
According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, the flexible working hours regime is expected to be particularly suitable for:
- Employees in sectors such as information technology, finance, education, and administrative or analytical public sector roles
- Parents of young children
- Persons with disabilities
- Employees pursuing education; and
- Employees working under remote or hybrid working arrangements
For industries that require continuous operations, such as those providing uninterrupted services, the flexible working hours regime would be subject to specific regulatory mechanisms, reflecting the operational needs of those sectors.
The Action Plan envisages that between 2026 and 2030, the Government will study international experience, conduct legal and institutional assessments, prepare the necessary legislative amendments, and implement the new framework in stages. If implemented, the new framework could provide employers with greater flexibility in organizing working time while helping employees achieve a better work-life balance. Businesses may benefit from improved employee satisfaction, higher productivity, and greater flexibility in workforce management.
