Azerbaijan prepares new State Service Code to reform civil service

A draft of the new State Service Code has been prepared and submitted for discussion in the Milli Majlis. The proposed code consists of 15 chapters and 94 articles and is expected to repeal six existing laws, including the current law ‘On State Service’ and regulations regarding ethical behavior and salary coefficients for civil servants.

The new legislation aims to regulate the general rules and conditions for entering state service, as well as the legal status of civil servants in the civil service sector. It emphasizes that appointments to state positions should be based on competition and transparency.

Proposed changes to the recruitment process include a two-stage interview system and the integration of test results into final evaluations. Experts have noted that while the code is a significant legal step, the practical impact on candidates—such as the utility of a two-year state service certificate and the potential for increased difficulty in the selection process—will only become clear once the new mechanisms are implemented.