Armenian parliament committee approves amended bill on New Year holidays

YEREVAN, November 10, /ARKA/. The Armenian parliament’s committee on state and legal issues has approved today in the second reading a set of revised amendments to the Law on Holidays and Memorable Dates, which set December 31, January 1, 2 and January 6 (on January 6 the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas) as days off.

Earlier, by a vote of 59 to 16 and three abstentions Armenia’s parliament had passed in the first reading a government-designed bill that set December 31, January 1 and January 6 only as days off. January 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, which used to be days off are to be working days.

The bill is being actively advocated by Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan, who says that five additional working days add as much as 90 billion drams to the overall Gross Domestic Product.

Some opposition lawmakers who voted against the proposal argued that cutting New Year holidays would affect the owners of recreation and leisure facilities.

In late October, the Assembly of Episcopal and Diocesan Leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church called on the parliament to preserve as non-working days also January 5 - as a Christmas Eve Holiday and January 7 - as the Day of the Dead, a celebration and remembrance of loved ones who have passed away. -0-