Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant Employees Protest Outside Ombudsman’s Office

A few dozen Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant employees on Tuesday demonstrated outside the Armenian Ombudsman's office, asking the Human Rights Defender to intervene and ask that the mandatory component of the new pension system be removed. The employees stated their requests in a letter delivered to the Ombudsman's office. 

During the demonstration, participants held signs of the popular Dem Em ("I am against") movement against the pension reforms and chanted, "We're not slaves!" Speaking to the press, demonstrators claimed that 99% of the nuclear power plant's 1,800 employees support their rally.

"January's [pension] deductions were already made, but we are against our salaries going to pension funds," said one of the employees, lead engineer Tsolak Mkrtchyan. 

Speaking to staff of the Ombudsman's office, the demonstrators explained why they're protesting outside their office. "It's clearly evident that our country's leaders have put pressure on the Constitutional Court — both publicly and privately. Don't be intimidated: we know that you have little leverage and knowing quite well that the authorities don't take your remarks into consideration, we've come to you. We're sure that for years our government has been on an actual labor strike — our authorities are not fulfilling their function. That is to say, in this case, when the government is on strike, as nuclear power plant employees, we have the right to work at least as our government does," one of Metsamor's employees, Garik Zargaryan, said to the staff of the Ombudsman's office. 

Another protesting employee said that since they work under particularly hazardous conditions, there is no guarantee that they'll live long enough to be eligible for a pension, which is why they considered it pointless to make payments to a private pension fund.

As for their future plans, the nuclear power plant employees preferred to remain silent. Nevertheless, they said the demonstrations won't turn into a labor strike, as the power plant must work, and they decide their next steps after they receive the Ombudsman's response.