Rise in salaries and pensions not expected in Armenia (video)
The draft budget of 2017 does not foresee a rise in salaries and pensions in Armenia. However, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan says there will be an increase in the standard of living of an average person. “All measures are intended to ease the social burden,” says the minister. He hints that the change in gas and electricity tariffs will lead to the reduction in the social burden and prices of agricultural products. “Under the 2017 draft budget, we did not have additional funds in terms of revenues which affected expenditure policies.” Minister of Finance Vardan Aramyan says economic growth is much more important than an increase in salaries and pensions. “Economic growth will provide revenues and we shall be able to ensure a permanent rise in salaries and pensions.” The minister says the potential of economic growth in Armenia is 4.5 percent and it does not allow them to raise salaries and pensions. They cannot increase salaries only once and step aside. “Once you do it, you will have to do it again and again.” It is not clear yet whether poverty rates in Armenia have increased or decreased this year. Even the data for 2015 is not available.
