The Chief Treasurer of Armenia considered the statements of the  deputies on worsening of social situation of citizens of country  emotionally colored

ArmInfo.According  to the draft budget of 2018, the social sphere of Armenia will allocate 408.7 billion AMD, which is 362 million AMD less than in 2017, chief  treasurer of Armenia Atom Dzhandzhugazyan said in the National Assembly of Armenia.

According to him, the reduction in funding is due to the completion  of some programs started in previous years. Of these funds, 236  billion will be used to pay pensions, which is 12 billion less than  in 2017. The difference is due to the recalculation of pensions of  those pensioners whose work record is not documented.  For the  payment of social benefits will be sent to 78.6 billion AMD.

Dzhandzhugazyan also reported that the health budget fell by 5.8  billion AMD to 80.1 billion AMD. At the same time, he was unable to  give a clear answer to the question of why the budget of such a  strategically important sphere as health care so sharply decreased,  while the funds previously allocated were not enough to meet its  needs. To somehow dispel concerns of deputies in connection with the  reduction in financing of social security and healthcare spheres,  Dzhandzhugazyan said that, in any case, the budget funds will not be  enough money anyway. At the same time, he did not agree with the  arguments of the deputies that the social situation of the citizens  of Armenia has worsened. "Your statements are emotionally colored,  while the facts speak about another: in Armenia unemployment has  decreased from 19% to 17.5%." In general, given the current realities  in Armenia, this ratio of funds in the budget is the most optimal,  "the treasurer assured. Gevorg Poghosyan, ex-minister of social  security of the Republic of Armenia, did not agree with him: "How can  the social condition of Armenian citizens improve against the  backdrop of growing inflation and fixed pensions and salaries?"

In his turn, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan,  presenting the main directions of budget financing of the sphere,  said that in 2018 a number of reforms would be implemented. In  particular, the procedure for determining disability will be  reviewed. "In the event that persons with health problems do not have  a disability group, the state will take the cost of their medical  care by themselves," the minister explained. He also said that in  2018 a special emphasis would be put on the labor provision of  pensioners.  "This issue acquires particular relevance against the  backdrop of Armenia's transition to the category of aging states,"  Asatryan explained.

In addition, the minister said that in order to stimulate the birth  rate, the possibility is considered of providing working mothers with  nanny services at the expense of the state, as well as creating an  electronic labor exchange. "In particular, we offer the opportunity  for a young mother to provide her with a nanny, whose services will  be paid by the state," Asatryan said. At the same time, the minister  did not drown out the conditions for providing a nanny and the amount  of payment for her services.

The explanations of Minister Asatryan, however, again did not satisfy  ex-minister Gevorg Poghosyan, who this time expressed concern about  the fate of private sector workers: "You know what slavish conditions  private sector employees are working in. And what does the state do  to protect their rights? Where is the labor inspection? "

Minister Asatryan, however, disagreed with the arguments of his  former colleague: "We did our best to minimize the" hikes "of  inspectors to establishments and enterprises in order, first, to give  them development, and secondly, to minimize corruption risks ".  Another thing, the minister said, is that trade unions must be  established to protect the rights of workers. "And we are ready to  take appropriate steps in this direction," the minister summed up.