Armenian entrepreneurs ready to employ Syrian Armenians

YEREVAN, November 21. /ARKA/. Heads of some 30 Armenian companies functioning in various areas have expressed readiness to employ Armenians who have fled their homes in Syria because of civil war.

Syrian Armenians seeking jobs met today with employers under the auspices of the Armenian economy ministry. 

Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan thanked those companies who have expressed willingness to help these jobseekers. “I urge those companies which haven’t done this so far to employ at least one Armenian from Syria,” she said. 

Hakobyan said that before the war Syrian Armenians had high-paid jobs or own businesses. She welcomed these entrepreneurs decision and said that it is necessary to provide Syrian Armenians with jobs which can initially ensure at least food and accommodation to them. 

The minister said that about 3,000 Syrian Armenians are seeking jobs now, and 160 people have already found jobs. 

Sona Harutyunyan, chief of the state employment agency, on her side, said that the agency has included Syrian Armenians its top-priority list of jobseekers. 

“Under these programs, Syrian Armenians can enjoy some preferences – for example, we are ready to pay up to 50% of the employee’s salary, but no more than the floor wage (35,000) to the employer, if the employee works ineffectively,” she said. 

The economy ministry’s officials told the jobseekers that they may open businesses in Armenia and that the government will provide preferences to them, particularly in free economic zones. 

The government recently made 12 decisions to provide some preferences to Syrian Armenians. 

The companies which expressed willingness to employ Syrian Armenians are Giza (waterproofing and technical surveillance), Armmobil (guarding activity), Ani-Has (offers premises for catering), Profile (construction), Armenian Programs (development, introduction and servicing of banking and accounting systems), Uyut Service (service for motor vehicles), R&V Comfort (importing and selling construction materials and architectural design), Media Group (advertising), SDCM (IT services in structural financing) and Yerevan Jewelry Plant. 

Now 200 Syrian citizens attend Armenian universities and 500 Syrian kids attend kindergartens.

According to Armenia’s state migration service, 32 families from Syria live now in 28 rooms in boarding houses. About 350 families rent apartments and other 50 live in their relatives’ houses. 

The Armenian community in Syria numbers at various estimates 100,000 people. The largest community is in Aleppo (60,000). Armenians also live in Damascus, Latakia and other cities. Clashes between government troops and armed opposition in Syria have forced many Armenians to flee their homes there. -0-