Azerbaijan’s National Assembly (Milli Majlis) has proposed a law that would require men to make regular contributions to the country’s pension fund on behalf of their unemployed wives. The initiative was introduced by MP Mubariz Gurbanli during a conference marking the Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty of Azerbaijan.
The proposal specifically targets men who prohibit their wives from working.
«Some men do not allow their wives to work, which can impact their financial security in retirement. In such cases, a portion of the husband’s salary should be transferred to his wife’s pension account. This must be enforced by law. Men should not oppose this initiative. After all, they are the reason their wives are unemployed,» Gurbanli stated.
In 2023, Azerbaijan removed restrictions on professions that had been off-limits to women since the Soviet era. As a result, women can now work in fields such as baking, pastry-making, bulldozer operation and even diving. However, many women remain unable to work due to their husbands’ objections.
