FINDING JOB IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR DISABLED PEOPLE IN ARMENIA
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily
25/05/2006
Roman Khmboyan, 22 years old disabled, is member of “Pyunik” Union
of Disabled People. He graduated from the Yerevan Industrial Collage
and, being specialist of radio-electronic equipment, he still fails
to find a job. At present, he studies mathematics for the entrance
exams to the university. He hopes that having higher education,
he will be able to find a job. He used to apply to many companies
for job and everywhere people told him that he didn’t have required
education. Certainly, Roman realizes that unemployment is a big problem
for many Armenian citizens, as even his family members are unemployed,
except for his father. “I would say that the attitude of people gets
worse and worse. In particular, I can feel that when communicating
with young people. It’s much better to communicate with older people,
they are not only tolerant but also very friendly,” Roman says.
“Pyunik” Union has been carrying out “Public Tolerance and Integration
of Young Disabled People in Society” program by the financial
assistance of RA Culture and Youth Affairs Ministry since November 1,
2005. Hakob Abrahamian, chairman of the union, stated at the closing
ceremony of the program that they have visited the regions and in
collaboration with the local organizations tried to settle the issues
of disabled people. He stated that the one of the most urgent problems
for disabled people is the environment that is not suitable for freely
moving. The disabled people also have financial, unemployment problems,
as well as unhealthy attitude of the society to them. Mr.
Abrahamian added that the state assists the disabled people by
securing free of charge medical treatment for them, providing them
with technical equipment and prosthetic devices.
Anahit Hakobian, representative of the Department of Disabled People
at RA Labor and Social Security Ministry, informed that 141 thousand
disabled people were registered in Armenia, in 2006. She added that
they deal with the employment issues of the disabled people, but
didn’t say how many people they managed to provide with jobs.