ACCOMPANIED BY THE MINISTERS OF ECONOMY, FINANCE, EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS, THE STATE REVENUE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND OTHER OFFICIALS, RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN CALLED AT THE VAGHARSH AND SONS LTD-OWNED GOLD MARKET IN KHORENATZI STREET
Satur day, 24 January 2009
Accompanied by the ministers of economy, finance, employment and social
affairs, the State Revenue Committee chairman and other officials,
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan called at the Vagharsh and Sons
Ltd-owned gold market in Khorenatzi street to get acquainted with
the traders’ working conditions and hear their grievances, repeatedly
voiced during the sits-in held in front of the government building.
After going round the marketplace and talking to several traders,
the Prime Minister concluded that there are too many problems –
sanitary-hygienic, health care- and fire safety-related – which is a
gross breach of legislation. In addition, many of the pavilions lack
in cash registers. The traders also complained of high monthly fees
charged by market administrators: the minimum fee stands at about AMD
70.000 of which only 18.000 drams are paid to the Treasury and 5.000
to the Pension Fund with the balance going to the administrator for
leasing, accounting and other purposes. During interviews held with
the traders, the Prime Minister explained that the latest legislative
amendments are aimed at relieving the tax burden for sellers20by
shifting the focus upon market administrators.
The administrator is the one to pay for new cash registers, install
them and ensure normal working conditions at the workplace.
Following his visit, the Prime Minister called a consultative meeting
in order to summarize the outcomes and find solutions to the existing
problems.
Accordingly, the head of the State Revenue Committee by the Government
was charged to prepare an analytical note on the annual financial
statements, lease settlements and fiscal liabilities of Vagharsh
and Sons Ltd within short time-limits for the Prime Minister’s
consideration.
In compliance with another assignment, the Labor Inspectorate by
the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs shall conduct surveys
round the marketplace to make a record of labor code breaches and take
the measures called for by domestic laws. The Ministry of Emergency
Situations was directed to look into the safety standards applicable
in this market, including the fire safety requirements and take all
necessary action.
The head of government is convinced that as a result of all these
measures, favorable conditions will be created for thousands of
employees of trade fairs and supermarkets in both financial-economic
and operating terms.