BAKU -- The Azerbaijani parliament has voted to make it illegal to employ children under the age of 15 to work, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.
The legislation amends the labor code and will become law after it is signed by President Ilham Aliyev.
Parliament deputy Hadi Racabli said during the December 4 legislative session that anyone employing children would be punished under the new law.
Panah Huseyn, an opposition deputy, said there are some 2 million children in Azerbaijan who are not socially protected.
Meanwhile, Siyavush Novruzov of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) party, told RFE/RL that the state is taking care of children and providing them with newly built schools.