“Decent work” program’s second phase kicked off in Armenia

YEREVAN, March 14. /ARKA/. The second phase of “Decent work” program for 2012-2015 is kicked off in Armenia, Gagik Makaryan, Chairman of Republican Union of Employers of Armenia, said Wednesday.

“Decent work” program for 2007-2011 was signed between ILO and its trilateral partners in Armenia- the government, Confederation of Trade Unions and Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia.

“As it is known the number of 14-30 years old young people reaches nearly 880,000 in Armenia, 50% of whom have no jobs or don’t work in their field of study. The program aims for fostering employment for the youth,” he said.

The program has two streams: it’s first of all to assist young people in choosing the major, integrate them into the labor market, and organize trainings for them. The second direction is to encourage young people to set up their own businesses, Makaryan said.

“Last year we organized special trainings for young people, who wished to launch their own business, and financed the registration of their businesses in the framework of the program,” Makaryan said adding that the principal goal of the program is involving young people into the process of small business formation in the country.

Makaryan said that visa facilitation measures between Armenia and other countries within “Eastern Agreement” can encourage many young people to look for jobs abroad.

“We will certainly make restrictions concerning this issue, however, our aim is to make the qualified workers and minds stay in Armenia,” he said.

By 2015 a number of events on fostering employment for young people will have been organized, according to him.

In his turn ,Boris Kharatyan, Confederation of Trade Unions vice-president, said it is also necessary to develop secondary special education in Armenia.

“Today secondary special education is gradually evolving in the country, and after finishing high school students may not need to enter universities, and receive another education instead, which is quite demanded in the country ,” he said. 

The total number of economically active people in Armenia amounted to 1,194,700 people, 1,120,800 of which are occupied in 2011, National Statistical Service of Armenia says. Average unemployment rate in Armenia accounted to 6.2% on January-December of 2011, down 1.2 percentage points from a year earlier. —0--