Epress.am News from Armenia
Today, in the National Assembly’s Social Affairs Standing Committee there were hearings conducted about reforms for the “Law on Temporary Unemployment Benefits” and “On State Benefits,” while near the National Assembly, a group of protesters gathered outside, protesting against the passing of the draft law.
Among the protesters were pregnant women, mothers with their infant children, fathers of new families who were worried about their family budget diminishing due to the law.
The protesters recognized that the law allows certain women to take corrupt measures in agreement with their employers in order to receive larger benefits, however, according to them, the government can not fight against the risk of corruption at the price of hurting other women.
“Saying that there are amendments to the law to fight against corruption, proves that they are a bunch of inadequates,” said a protester.
The law is foreseen to take effect after January 1. In essence, the law sees positive changes for non-working (stay-at-home) mothers. According to the law, non-working women will receive the minimum national salary 70 days before giving birth and 70 days after giving birth. This sum, however, is taken away from working women, because the law plans to decrease their pre and post-birth benefits. If in under the current law, mothers receive the medium amount of their 12 months of work during the 140 days, then they have to receive 40% or 80% or more than their overall salary, if they have 3 years experience, moreover, if they have not changed their workplace. The benefits were made as low as possible by defining a ceiling to the benefits; if a mother has 1-2 children, she can not receive more than 2.5 million AMD, and if she has 3 or more chirldren, she can not receive more than 3.5 million AMD.