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Employment contracts in Azerbaijan must be written. It is strongly recommended that the contract be in the Azerbaijani language. Once it is signed, the employee should receive a copy. An employment contract becomes valid after registration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population (MLSPP). An employment contract may be for a fixed term of up to five years, including renewals. The fixed term must be specified in the contract. Probation periods of up to three months are permitted.

The standard workweek in Azerbaijan is 40 hours with an eight-hour day over five days. In some circumstances, it is possible to establish a workweek with six working days. A six-day workweek may be structured as a 40-hour workweek with no more than seven working hours per day, or as a 36-hour workweek with no more than six working hours per day.

Overtime is allowed only in unusual circumstances and is normally limited to two hours for employees in hazardous jobs and a maximum of four hours over two working days for other employees. Overtime and work on holidays are paid at 200% of an employee’s basic rate, while work scheduled at night is paid at 140% of the basic rate. Additional time off may not be substituted for overtime hours.

In Azerbaijan, the public holidays are:

• New Year's Day

• Day of National Mourning

• Women's Day

• Victory Day

• Republic Day

• Day of National Salvation of the Azerbaijan People

• Armed Forces Day

• National Independence Day

• Constitution Day

• National Restoration Day

• Azerbaijan World Solidarity Day

An employer in Azerbaijan that wishes to terminate an employee must justify the termination of the employment contract. Acceptable reasons for termination include: liquidation of the enterprise and personnel cutbacks; the employee is declared to be lacking the necessary professional skills by a competent body; and the employee fails to perform his/her duties without a valid reason. The employer’s order to terminate the contract must be signed and authenticated by the employer and a copy should be given to the employee along with record book and final payment. An employee may terminate an employment contract by providing the employer with a minimum of one month of notice in writing. If an employee is dismissed due to changes in the terms of employment such as the employee being called for military or national service or the employee not being able to perform their duties for six months due to disability, the employee receives a severance payment equivalent to two months of salary. Pregnant women, parents with children under three years old, temporarily incapacitated workers, and certain other categories of employees cannot be terminated under normal circumstances.

Azerbaijan has a minimum wage. Performance bonuses may be paid at the discretion of the employer.