UNEMPLOYMENT – PROBLEM OF PROBLEMS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
26 Jan 05
Within the framework of stabilizing the social and economic sector in
Nagorni Karabakh unemployment has always been regarded as the problem
of problems. To find out if there were changes in the number of
unemployment we turned to the head of the department of work and
employment of the NKR Ministry of Social Security Ararat Bakhtamian.
According to A. Bakhtamian, the number of people looking for jobs in
Nagorni Karabakh by January 1 totaled 4223, which has decreased from
January 1 of the previous year by 1.1 per cent or 49 persons. Against
3314 people of the previous year the number of unemployed people
presently is 3278, i.e. it has decreased by 36. At the beginning of
the year 264 people were withdrawn from the records for the reason of
finding employment, canceling the status of unemployed, changing the
residence, as well as retiring. The number of women prevails in the
rate of unemployment, totaling 92.5 per cent or 3032 persons. By
January 1, 2005 of the total number of the unemployed 124 people have
received the unemployment benefit, decreasing from the same period of
the previous year by 55 or 30.7 per cent. The number of workers totals
37.2 per cent of the total number of the unemployed or 1219. Observing
the levelof education of the unemployed, persons with higher education
total 10.1 per cent of the unemployed, 23.4 per cent have average
education and 66.5 per cent secondary or 8-year education. In the
mentioned period the age of the unemployed is the following: 47.6 per
cent are under 30, 48.1 per cent are 30-50 years old, and 4.3 per cent
are above 50. From the beginning of the year 76 people found employment,
of them 57 through employment agencies. According to Ararat Bakhtamian,
the NKR law `On the Minimum Monthly Salary’ hasbeen put in effect
since January 1, 2005, by which the minimum salary in NKR increased
from 10 thousand to 15 thousand drams. Basing upon the law, the draft
decision of the NKR government `On the Basic Unemployment Benefit’ was
worked out which, after its adoption by the government, will maintain
the size of the basic unemployment benefit 9000 drams. The size of
compensation for injuries, professional diseases or damage of health
caused during work will also increase since January 1, 2005. After the
adoption of the government decision the size of compensation will be
maintained 20 per cent of the minimum monthly salary (3000 drams) plus
the sum calculated according to the degree of damage of working
ability.` Till January 1, 2005 66 citizens received 1000 drams of
compensation from the state budget. They received this sum
irrespective of the degree of working ability, which was not socially
fair. I hope the adoption of the decision will enable to differentiate
the degrees of damage to working ability,’ mentioned the head of work
and employment adding that for this sphere in 2005 3947.4 thousand
drams will be provided from the state budget against 3147.4 thousand
drams in 2004.
NVARD OHANJANIAN.
26-01-2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress