Epress.am News from Armenia
Today, a large number of Nairit factory workers held a protest across from the Presidential Palace. The Nairit workers are protesting that they have to sign a notice which indicates that they would be laid off from work after February 6, 2015.
The protesters believe that the company will fire their employees regardless of whether they sign the notice or not. The protesters assume that the owners of Nairit wish to declare fake bankruptcy, in order for their unpaid employees to not receive their due salaries even if they go to court.
“Now, there are about 2100 workers, they’ll be all laid off, they’ll leave 500 workers, and sign new contracts with them, and we will never receive our 18 unpaid salaries,” said a Nairit employee when speaking to Epress.am. The protesters are predicting a similar scenario like that of the Armavia Airlines, whose employees were left without their salaries due to Armavia going bankrupt.
The Nairit employees also stated that the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan had promised that their salaries would be paid in December, however, about a week ago they only received a one month salary and another month's salary was promised before the New Year holidays. “2015 is beginning, we received our last salary back in March of 2013,” said a Nairit employee.
One of the protesters said that they have no hope with the government, hence why they are addressing the President.
“The government says that they hold only 10% of Nairit's shares and cannot represent the whole company. As to who the other owners are, they don’t tell us.”