FOCUS ON SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
09 Jan 05

NKR State Budget 2005 increased social expenditure by 30 per cent. The
main strategy of social security and social insurance will be maximum
possible protection of socially vulnerable population through a
balanced developmentof the economy. In this context it is a priority
to regulate legislatively the relationships government – employer –
labour force. After the adoption of the Labour Code it is planned to
work out draft decisions of the NKR governmentwhich will favour the
enactment of the Code, including the decisions `On State Work Agency’,
`Obligatory Insurance against Accidents and Professional Diseases’, `
Obligatory Insurance against Temporary Disability’. A practical step
in the implementation of the salary policy is the increase in the
minimum salary from 10 to 15 thousand drams since January 1, 2005.

This year for the first timein the republic the basket of goods will
be calculated and maintained by the government for the coming three
years. It will underlie the maintenance of the size of the minimum
salary, pensions, scholarship, as well as benefits and allowances. In
2005 the salary of teachers increased by 65 per cent, healthworkers 26
per cent, certain specialists working in the sphere of culture 22.4
per cent. Pension will increase by 1000 drams and the value of one
year of service will total 160 drams (against 140 in 2004). Benefits
paid to different categories of children have been increased by about
50 per cent. 21 per cent of budget expenses (4 billion 490 million
drams exceeding 2004 by 317.7 million drams) will be directed at
social security and social insurance.

AA.
09-01-2005