ARMENIA LACKS LEGISLATIVE DEFINITION OF FORCED LABOR

ArmInfo
2010-02-12 13:15:00

ArmInfo. Armenia lacks legislative definition of forced labor, says
Nver Sargsyan, International Labor Organization, National Project
Coordinator in Armenia.

He said a relevant legislative initiative is necessary for effective
investigation and qualification of labor exploitation. "There have been
cases in the judicial practice when a crime falls under another article
for lack of the given definition," he told media. He highlighted
a number of amendments to the Criminal Code of Armenia adopted in
November 2009 to combat trafficking in persons. Amendments to Article
132 (trading in persons) stipulate 5-10 years of imprisonment for human
exploitation and 7-12 years in case of aggravating circumstances. "We
are glad that the government pays attention to this problem. For
instance, the state budget for 2009 approved certain funds to fight
trafficking," N. Sargsyan said. The state budget for 2009 envisaged
433 million drams for that purpose as part of 9 programs. As regards
the number of trafficking victims, he brought the data by "Hope
and Help" NGO that revealed 11 victims of trafficking in Armenia in
2009. At present he said ILO and the National Statistical Service of
Armenia are finishing a joint survey on trafficking. The survey will
be published within a month.

He said that the International Labor Organization implemented a
number of programs with Armenian partners also to provide security
of Armenian labor migrants. "Much depends on transparent activity of
private employment agencies that need regulation also via licensing,
especially the agencies engaged in employment of the citizens in
abroad. In cooperation with the Union of Employers of Armenia a branch
association of human resources agencies has been established at the
Union of Employers of Armenia. Code of Ethics is currently drafted for
them," he said. The branch association will have a website containing
also the "black list" of the unreliable agencies.