91,000 JOBSEEKERS RECORDED IN ARMENIA: STATE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

ARKA
Dec 8, 2008

YEREVAN, December 8. /ARKA/. The number of Armenia’s jobseekers
reached 90,800 in the past months, reported Sona Harutyunyan, head
of the RA State Employment Agency.

The number of unemployed was down 0.4% to 76,000 in end-2008, with
average unemployment rate being 6.3%.

Relatively higher unemployment rates were recorded in Syunik, Shirak,
Lori, Kotayk and Tavoush regions, Harutyunyan said, adding 2008 was
marked with positive changes thanks to the State Employment Regulation
Program which has been fulfilled 100 percent.

However, employment laws remain weak, she said, adding this year the
government revised the order of offering financial assistance when
moving to a new place of work.

"This program has not been fulfilled for years, as employees refused
to move to a new place because of a miserable refund," Harutyunyan
said: "From now on, employees can get a financial assistance worth
500,000 drams when moving to a new place 30 kilometers far from where
they live."

The new program provides for financial assistance when moving
furniture, as well as refund for payment of communal services.