ACCORDING TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTIES, IN ARMENIA PEOPLE LOSE JOBS NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS

Noyan Tapan

Feb 5, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. As of late January, 3,500 people
lost jobs due to the global financial and economic crisis, the RA
minister of labor and social issues Arsen Hambartsumian stated during
the February 4 sitting of the RA National Assembly. Noting that
this data is not final, the minister called on all the unemployed
to be registered at the regional employment centers to help organize
more precise registration. The minister did not give an answer to NA
deputies’ question about what steps the government is going to take
for preventing an increase in unemployment.

According to some deputies, many people lost their jobs because
of the recent steps of the government. The member of "OYP" faction
Stepan Aslanian noted that empty areas have appeared in the fairs of
Yerevan due to the use of cash registers, the requirement on invoices
and for other reasons. In his words, the fact that in conditions of
the crisis people lose their jobs for other reasons is worrying.

The member of "Heritage" faction Armen Martirosian said that employees
of fairs often suffer because of the owners of these areas. He added
that these owners are those engaged in big business who must be made
to pay the full amount of taxes.

The minister of economy Nerses Yeritsian pointed out the necessity
to record all the documents on turnover for efficient organization
of tax collection.

As regards invoices for foodstuffs, according to the minister,
henceforth only the receiver may issue an invoice with the passport
data of the supplier and the quantity of goods.

A. Martirosian also addressed the problem of private taxi drivers who
demand extending the period of use of their vehicles and cancelling
the requirement on yellow number plates which does not allow them to
transport passengers out of Armenia. By the way, on the day of the
sitting taxi drivers held another action of protest.

The minister of transport and communication Gurgen Sargsyan announced
that an agreement on yellow number plates was reached with Georgia,
and no problems with transporting passengers there will arise. As
for the period of use of vehicles, it will not be changed because
the problem is related to safety of passenger transportation.