ArmInfo. The dominant parliamentary faction Civil Contract refused to put the bill raising the minimum monthly wages from AMD 68,000 up to AMD 100,000 on the agenda, pleading lack of funds.
Aghvan Vardanyan, the author of the bill, reminded the MP than the minimum monthly wages was last raised in 2019, from AMD 55,000 to 68,000. The cost of the consumer basket is AMD 73,400 this year (up by (21.7%). Also, the water- and electricity supply prices have been raised, and the gas prices will be raised soon.
According to Mr Vardanyan, Armenia has ratified the Social Charter, which obliges the signatories to ensure that the minimum wages not be lower than 40% of the average wages. The average monthly wages in Armenia was AMD 255,000 last December. The opposition MP proposed that the bill be circulated next year.
In his turn, Gevorg Papoyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs, recalled he promised a rise in minimum wages up to AMD 85,000. Armenia's authorities will do it if the necessary funds are available.
Both the Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs and Armenia's Cabinet declined the bill. According to the Cabinet, the reason is the post-war situation and pandemic. Moreover, the government states the adoption of the bill could cause a price rise and increase unemployment.
