No rise in minimum wages and pensions in 2016, minister says
Speaking at an extraordinary session of the parliament today Armenia’s finance minister Gagik Khachatryan said the government would not be able to raise minimum wages and pensions in 2016, although ‘it believes that increasing the minimum size of salaries and pensions in 2016 is socially important.’
The minimum monthly salary in Armenia was risen on the 1st of July 2015 by 5,000 drams to 55,000 drams. Under the government’s plan of activities for 2014-2017 the minimum monthly salary is to reach 65,000 drams.
The minister said in order to raise the minimum wage from 55,000 to 65,000 drams the government would need about 35 billion drams additionally. ‘The government has no such funds," Khachatryan said.
According to him, the Armenian government shares the concerns of MPs that no rise in the minimum wages and pensions will increase social tensions. ($ 1 - 481.88 drams).