Chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, another hearing on public agencies’ performance reports for 2019 was held in the Office of Government. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs reported on the activities implemented in the period under review.

Minister Zaruhi Batoyan reported that the minimum monthly salary was raised on a regular basis in Armenia, taking account of macroeconomic indicators. Based on the research and proposal of the Ministry, the minimum salary was set at 68 thousand drams in 2020. The draft laws of the Republic of Armenia “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” and “On Assessing Individual’s Functionality” have been developed. Approved were the requirements for the staff and shelters to accommodate the victims of domestic violence, as well as the mechanisms and the amount of financial assistance provided by the state to the victims of domestic violence.

Amendments were made to the law “On Identification and Support of Persons Subjected to Human Trafficking and Exploitation.” Accordingly, the state will henceforth provide one-time financial assistance to underage victims of human trafficking in the amount of 250,000 drams. Lump-sum assistance was provided to 5 people in 2019 under the aforementioned program.

In accordance with the Prime Minister’s decision, the Ministry approved the composition of the task force entrusted with the reform of the child adoption system in the Republic of Armenia. The task force is supposed to implement fact-finding activities. Some 230 children returned to their biological families from 3 liquidated boarding schools and one orphanage. 1130 families were provided consulting services and in-kind support to prevent their children, including 28 newborns, from being sent to orphanages, boarding schools and other such institution.

In a bid to raise the standard of living and improving the social status of citizens, a new concept of the social assistance was developed, a conditional allowance program was introduced, several procedures were simplified, and recipients of family and social benefits were given the opportunity to work on a seasonal basis. A draft law is being developed on amending the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On State Benefits,” according to which a new economic stabilization benefit will be introduced to phase out poverty.

In order to mitigate the negative trends of demographic development, promote birth rate and support young families and families with small children, the amount of the lump-sum child birth allowance has been revised: for the first and second child 300 thousand drams will be set instead of the previous 50-150 thousand drams.

The size of the allowance for caring for a child under the age of two years has been revised – 26 500 drams instead of the previous 18 thousand drams. A state-funded housing program for young families and families with small children has been developed for 2020-2023.

In 2019, benefits were marked up for about 89,300 citizens, including military and labor pensions. The amended law On State Pensions introduced a new term of “minimum pension,” equal to the extreme poverty line.

At the government’s initiative, the banks conceded about AMD 1,300 million-worth loans granted to repressed people and their first-degree heirs on preferential terms. In 2019, the process of issuing apartment purchase certificates to 300 graduates of children’s homes started, 1,9 billion drams have been allocated for that purpose. Since August 1, 2019, the monthly award for the Great Patriotic War veterans has doubled, reaching 100 thousand drams. Salaries for those employed in organizations providing care and rehabilitation services to people with mental problems increased by 30%. At the moment, the decision concerns 152 people. Thanks to the effective optimization of the system, in 2020 it became possible to increase the salary of 930 employees of 24-hour child care and elderly institutions by 5-61%. Through the mediation of the State Employment Agency 13 thousand 513 people were employed.

It was emphasized that after the non-violent velvet popular revolution of 2018, budget allocations in this area increased dramatically by 75.4 billion drams, or 18.1%. The Gender Policy Implementation Strategy for 2019–2023, the Program of Activities, as well as the Comprehensive Plan for the exercise of children’s right to live in a family and for harmonious development for 2019–2023 were approved. The strategy to develop labor and social protection for 2020–2030 and the government’s employment strategy for 2019–2023 are nearing the stage of completion.

Prime Minister Pashinyan expressed satisfaction with the work done by the Ministry in 2019 and stressed the importance of adopting the aforementioned strategies as shortly as possible and including the programs and activities presented in them in the state budget of the Republic of Armenia.

The Premier stressed the need to modernize the activity of the State Employment Agency and to cooperate with the high-tech ministry and the State Revenue Committee in order to implement an electronic employment platform. According to the prime minister, the platform should contain the necessary information about both vacancies and job seekers.

Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the importance of providing quality education for children coming from orphanages, which will make them more competitive. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the results of the anti-crisis measures undertaken by the Ministry and instructed to make the work of the department more dynamic and intensive.