Armenian parliament passes major package of amendments to Labor Code
YEREVAN, May 3. /ARKA/. By a vote of 81 to 5 abstentions Armenia's parliament has passed today in the second and final reading a set of amendments to the Labor Code, which, according to Deputy Labor and Social Affairs Minister Ruben Sargsyan, specify, among other things, the rights of working women.
One of the changes is relating to women who take care of children. In particular, the working day is shortened for mothers who care for children both under the age of one and two years.
The change also introduces half-hour breaks every three hours for mothers caring for children under two years of age. If desired, women can dispose of this time on their own, for example, to come to work later or to leave earlier.
Another change removes from the Labor Code a clause that allows employers to terminate contract with employees who reach retirement age. The current Labor Code does not allow concluding open-ended contracts with pensioners - this point is abolished too.
Additional social guarantees are provided to servicemen wounded in the course of combat operations, as well as to families of deceased or missing servicemen.
In particular, in case of layoffs they will be given preference under other equal conditions and will be able to continue their work.
The changes also say that with the consent of the employer, a leave can be granted earlier than six months after the start of work. Also, if an employee does not apply for leave within 2.5 years, then the employer, by their own decision, is to determine when the employee will take leave.
The changes also introduce 'educational leave," according to which a leave of absence for up to 2 years may be granted to an employee.
The new changes also create conditions for the employer and employee to terminate their cooperation by mutual consent from the date chosen by them, while according to the current regulations an employee is obliged to work for a month after asking for release.
Among other things, the changes give the employer and employee the opportunity to resolve their disputes in pre-trial proceedings. . -0--
