ARMENIA MAY NEED ADDITIONAL 1BLN AMD FOR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

ARKA
Apr 15, 2009

YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. According to a preliminary estimate of
the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Armenia may need an
additional 0.5-1bln AMD for employment programs.

Minister Arsen Hambartsumyan reported that a total of 4.2bln AMD
have been budgeted in Armenia for this purpose this year – 13.8%
more than last year.

"This April 17,663 people are on the dole against the budgeted 14,500,
and an uptrend can be observed," Hambarstumyan stated at the conference
on a social impact of the global economic crisis.

He pointed out that 17,663 people received unemployment benefits
during the first few days of this month against 16,700 this January.

"The benefit is equal to 60% of the minimum wage rate – 18,000 AMD,
against 15,000 AMD last year and 12,000 AMD in 2007. The average term
of payment of unemployment benefits is ten months," Hambartsumyan said.

He also pointed out that 6.8% unemployment was registered in Armenia
early this April against 6.3% this January.

"The trends arouse some concern because the number of jobseekers
reached 99,000 early this April against 90,200 this January. According
to the on-line information, the number of unemployed reached 78,700
this April – 4,000 more as compared with this January," the Minister
said.

He pointed out that 2,061 jobseekers were employed in th e 1st quarter
of this year – an increase of 13.7% as compared with the corresponding
period last year.

Hambartsumyan added that 20% of the jobseekers are young people. Women
and young people constitute 72% and 18.9% of unemployed respectively.

The Minister reported that a computer program aimed to enhance the
labor market management was installed at all the regional employment
agencies in Armenia.

"The system is designed for prompt processing of the statistical data
on the labor market to enhance the efficiency of the work," he said.

Hambartsumyan also listed the measures under the employment program:
a short-term analysis on the labor market, enhancing the efficiency
of government programs, selecting the majors and fields in the context
of the global crisis, elaborating and developing new initiatives.