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ARMENIANS WORKING IN RUSSIA TO GET PENSION

Politics

Armenia is the forth country that will sign an agreement with the Russian Federation on social reforms, namely referring to the sphere of pensions.

This means that the Armenians working in Russia will have no troubles and concerns while retiring. They can be convinced that the years in Russia haven't been in vain.

“This is really a good chance for all the citizens of Russia who once worked in RF and now fear that they may lose their pensions of that period and stay in Russia for that reason. This will become a kind of incentive for them to return to their Motherland without any further fear”, announced Vazgen Khachikyan, president of the Social Insurance Foundation.

On December 5-6, joint consultation of the heads of Armenian and Russian Social Insurance Foundations was held in Moscow. The parties focused on a number of issues; including the citizens of the two countries, the provision of pensions of oversea workers, the reforms of the pension system, the activities of the foundations and their further improvement.

Which country will appoint and pay the pension? Vazgen Khachikyan claims that citizens' pensions are discussed and fixed in the country where they have applied.

For example, if any Armenian has worked in RF for 10 years, RF (which has got Department of International Pensions) will pay for those 10 years and the rest will be paid by Armenia. According to statistics data, 600 – 800 thousand RA citizens have settled in Russia over the past 10-12 years.

In Mr. Khachikyan's opinion, the number of pensioners will surpass 100 thousand. Though the head of the Social Insurance Foundation is unaware of the number of the Russian workers in the boundaries of Armenia, he assumes that it is not great.

There are vital differences between the pensions of the two countries. Pensioners get 3000 rubles (approximately 120 USD) in Russia whereas Armenian pensioners get 11 400 AMD (approximately 32 USD). “The point is that life costs higher in Russia”, says Vazgen Khachatryan.

Currently the base pension is 4250 AMD in Armenia. Average pension will be increased to 13500 AMD in 2007.

By the way, while calculating the pensions of the Armenians working in Russia, they will take into consideration the payments to the social insurance foundations and not work experience.

It is not a secret that most of the Armenians working in Russia haven't got legal right to work, thus they will not make use of this privilege.

It is noteworthy that 1317 pensioners of Armenia, who were deprived of pensions because of the absence of social cards, can already get their pensions.

“Under the decision of Constitutional Court according to which the existence of social card is no more obligatory, everyone can get pension henceforth. 700 pensioners have already got pensions”, says Vazgen Khachikyan.