Armenian government releases 1.5 billion drams for payment of bonuses to SRC employees
04.04.2019,
18:42
The government of Armenia has approved today the release of 1.5 billion drams for the State Revenue Committee (SRC) for the payment of bonuses to its employees.
YEREVAN, April 4. /ARKA/. The government of Armenia has approved today the release of 1.5 billion drams for the State Revenue Committee (SRC) for the payment of bonuses to its employees. News reports in January 2019 that SRC employees were given hefty bonuses caused a public outcry. Some of top officials were said to have been given as much as 9 million drams.
SRC head David Ananyan said today the 1.5 billion drams will be released from the 2 billion drams, which SRC managed to save in 2018.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pointed out the risks that arise because of no bonuses. "An ordinary customs officer receives 160 thousand drams a month. A customs officer who daily faces goods worth tens and hundreds of millions of drams receives only 160 thousand drams," said Pashinyan.
The decision was opposed by Minister of Finance Atom Janjughazyan, who disagreed with the idea that payment of bonuses will contribute to the improvement of inspection mechanisms and increased efficiency of customs officers. ‘No amount can solve this problem - these issues cannot be resolved by bonuses," the minister argued. He also reminded of a government decision that the total amount of bonuses paid to public servants could not exceed 30% of their salary fund.
Minister of Economic Development and Investments Tigran Khachatryan took a neutral position, but agreed with Janjughazyan that a universal solution should be found to this issue.
"Ananyan is also right in the sense that until a solution is found, we should tolerate the system in order to retain qualified personnel," said the minister. ($ 1 - 487.29 drams). -0-
SRC head David Ananyan said today the 1.5 billion drams will be released from the 2 billion drams, which SRC managed to save in 2018.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pointed out the risks that arise because of no bonuses. "An ordinary customs officer receives 160 thousand drams a month. A customs officer who daily faces goods worth tens and hundreds of millions of drams receives only 160 thousand drams," said Pashinyan.
The decision was opposed by Minister of Finance Atom Janjughazyan, who disagreed with the idea that payment of bonuses will contribute to the improvement of inspection mechanisms and increased efficiency of customs officers. ‘No amount can solve this problem - these issues cannot be resolved by bonuses," the minister argued. He also reminded of a government decision that the total amount of bonuses paid to public servants could not exceed 30% of their salary fund.
Minister of Economic Development and Investments Tigran Khachatryan took a neutral position, but agreed with Janjughazyan that a universal solution should be found to this issue.
"Ananyan is also right in the sense that until a solution is found, we should tolerate the system in order to retain qualified personnel," said the minister. ($ 1 - 487.29 drams). -0-
