Non-governmental organizations as labor unions in Azerbaijan

In this study, the non-governmental organizations in Azerbaijan were examined in the context of social phenomenon supporting the democracy in the civil society. In recent years, substantial improvements occurred in the development of the non-governmental organizations, which are among the basic foundations of the democratic society. In our study, the NGO?s were evaluated as important factors in the development of the solution of the problems of the transition period and in the formation of the civil society.This study is a scanning evaluation research in which the labor unions in Azerbaijan were investigated as non-governmental organizations. The study was based on the documentary observation method using the literature and documents both all around the world and in Azerbaijan.In the study, all of the characteristics of the labor unions in the world and in Azerbaijan were tried to be put forth in detail. During the research, while especially the general situation analysis of the NGO?s in Azerbaijan was tried to be put forth, the problem areas were tried to be determined and solution proposals were offered at the same time.We can list the current problems in the sector of NGO?s like that: the fact that legislation base of NGO?s cannot meet the existing demands; that being taking under state registration is exposed to bureaucratic difficulties; that they are financially dependent on foreign states; that the government doesn?t give the due importance to the development of the sector; and the inadvertent developments experienced in the relations with the private sector.One of the NGO?s which are in the process of development is the labor unions. In our study, labor unions were dealt with extensively. With the purpose of shedding light on the issue, the social and political characteristics of the labor unions in the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920) were taken into consideration.In Azerbaijan, NGO?s initially emerged as aid organizations and they went down in history as the first labor unions in the social and historical terms. Though the aid organizations and labor unions founded in Azerbaijan had differences in terms of their social and functional aspects, they had the character of non-governmental organizations in terms of their activities.Key Words:1. Azerbaijan2. Civil Society3. Pluralism4. Tolerance5. Labor Union (Trade Union)