Armenia says no to gender discrimination in the labor market

ArmInfo.Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zaruhi Batoyan, Director of the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office of the International Labor Organization (ILO)  Heinz Koler, Chairman of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia   Gagik Makaryan and Head of the Confederation of Trade Unions of the  Republic of Armenia signed a national "Decent Work" program, which  sets the priorities of the Armenian government in the labor market,  goals and expectations for 2019- 2023, and until September of this  year expected to develop employment strategies.

According to the head of the Ministry of Labor, the document was the  result of the effective cooperation of the department with all social  partners and international structures. "With the program, the  Armenian government confirms its readiness to adhere to the framework  of international conventions in the sphere of labor," Batoyan said,  adding that the program is expected to reform labor legislation and  revise the entire employment policy. The program will also ensure the  protection of the rights of vulnerable groups in the labor market and  the realization of equal rights for men and women. "The document will  give a new round of the policy of stimulating labor and ensuring a  non-discriminatory approach for all participants of the process,  proclaimed by the new government of Armenia," the minister said.

According to the representative of the ILO, the program reflects the  priorities of the parties, as well as the UN for 2016-2020. The  document, as pointed out by Heinz Koller, aims to achieve three main  objectives - full regulation of labor relations in accordance with  international standards, improvement of employment policy in the  republic and the formation of social dialogue. According to him,  sustainable growth is impossible without a stable dialogue and the  formation of an effective government dialogue with all social  partners. "The ILO attaches importance not only to regulation, but to  proper regulation of labor relations," Koller said, noting that the  ILO will be happy to take part in the revision of the Labor Code, the  Labor Inspectorate and the development of the Employment Strategy.

Head of the ILO Moscow office, Olga Kulaeva, in turn, assured that  the Organization will do everything possible so that labor  legislation in Armenia not only fully complies with ILO standards,  but also applied in full.