Trade unions exist only on paper in Armenia, Ombudsman says
04.06.2013,
15:51
Trade unions exist only virtually in Armenia today and give almost no help to people in protection of their labor rights, Armenia’s ombudsman Karen Andreasyan said at parliament hearings on guarantees of trade union operations.
YEREVAN, June 4. /ARKA/. Trade unions exist only virtually in Armenia today and give almost no help to people in protection of their labor rights, Armenia’s ombudsman Karen Andreasyan said at parliament hearings on guarantees of trade union operations. The ombudsman apologised before the trade unions that do carry out something effective.
Trade unions are unable to protect even the rights and interests of individuals in Armenia, whereas in the United States their opinion is taken into consideration by the president himself, Andreasyan said.
Yet, the ombudsman doubted that legislation will be enough to ensure development of trade unions.
The problem is not the legislation, but the economy and the society to some extent, he said.
Representatives of trade unions said when 43% of the economy is in the “shadow” and many economic sectors are held by influential tycoons, trade union cannot work effectively without assistance from the state. -0-
