Armenia could extend deadline for electronic labor contracts 

ArmInfo.  Armenia may reconsider the deadline for transitioning to electronic employment contracts. Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Torosyan announced this  during a briefing on February 5, responding to a question from  ArmInfo.

As a reminder, starting January 1, 2026, all employment contracts  will be concluded exclusively electronically, requiring an electronic  signature. Existing paper contracts must be converted to electronic  format by December 31, 2026. To do this, citizens must have an  electronic signature, which can only be obtained with an ID card (for  a fee of 3,000 drams). This has led to long lines to obtain ID cards,  and even with one, activating the signature requires contacting  mobile operators, which creates additional hassle. The Ministry of  Social Labor and Social Protection acknowledged yesterday that  months-long queues for ID cards have already formed due to excessive  demand and the need to activate electronic signatures. In view of the  difficulties that have arisen, the ministry intends to amend the  Labor Code.

"We are monitoring the situation and assessing its severity, and are  currently developing appropriate solutions. We will make a final  decision in the coming days," Torosyan stated today.

As the minister pointed out, there is one important circumstance:  since the new system of identification cards and passports, scheduled  to launch at the end of this year, is being implemented, there is a  problem with the balance between currently issued ID cards and those  issued in the future.

"Based on this, we may be able to find solutions, because even if  these devices (for issuing ID cards) operate 24/7 now, despite their  limited capacity, there will be a need to transition to new ones.

" "For this and other reasons, we may revise the deadlines-that is,  the deadlines for applying the law-to avoid depriving employees of  their right to work for this reason, since newly concluded employment  contracts must now be exclusively electronic," he said.

The minister reported that approximately 200,000 citizens do not have  an electronic signature, and it is necessary to ensure that the  transition is "painless."

"There is also an intention to keep everything voluntary. But these  are preliminary discussions; we will make a final decision in the  coming days," Arsen Torosyan noted.