Azerbaijan’s parliament has approved amendments to the Law on Mandatory Health Insurance, introducing new requirements for people earning income without a formal employment contract.
Under the updated rules, individuals working in the informal sector—including agricultural workers, craftsmen, freelancers, individual service providers, and self-employed citizens who operate without official registration-will now be required to pay a monthly insurance contribution of roughly 16 manats. A penalty of 10 percent of the contribution will be applied for delayed payments.
The changes do not affect citizens officially registered as unemployed or those receiving state social assistance. For these groups, the government will continue covering their health-insurance contributions in full, meaning they will not need to make any out-of-pocket payments.
Lawmakers say the new mechanism aims to ensure equal access to healthcare services for all citizens while encouraging formal employment and greater transparency in the labor market.
Source: Yeni Sabah
