Armenia to raise pensions and allowances in 2023

YEREVAN, July 12. /ARKA/. Armenian Labor and Social Affairs Minister Narek Mkrtchyan reaffirmed today that the government will raise pensions and allowances starting from 2023.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said pensions, minimum wage and maternity benefits will be raised from January 1, 2023. According to him, the minimum wage will also be raised from current 68,000 drams to 75,000 drams.

"We have agreed that it is necessary to increase the child care allowance for children up to 2 years old from 28,600 drams to 30,700 drams (in rural areas). We must give allowance to all mothers of children under 2 years old, regardless of their place of residence and work," Pashinyan said.

Working mothers in villages will continue to receive double allowance, i.e. from January 1 they will receive 61,400 drams a month for a child.

"We are now discussing the draft 2023 budget," Mkrtchyan told reporters today. The minister specified that there are plans to raise pensions in two stages up to AMD 6,000 (about $14).

Armenian Finance Minister Tigran Khachatryan said earlier that that pensions, allowances and salaries of social workers will be raised too. According to him, in 2023 the social security expenditures will increase by 65 billion drams or 11.3%. ($1 - 410.67 drams) -0-