One can buy 12 loaves of bread with proposed AMD 2500
The National Assembly is continuing today the discussion of a government-proposed bill on amending the RA Law "On Minimum Monthly Wages."
"The political will of our government is only estimated AMD 2500," Artsvik Minasyan, a lawmaker of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D), said at the National Assembly on Wednesday. He stressed that the minimum wage should not be lower than the poverty plank which is at the highest level in Armenia.
"I urge you [Republicans] to listen to the opposition, follow reasonableness and stay away from that vicious bill. There are two basic values - individual and statehood, which is based on the principle of justice," Mr. Minasyan said addressing the Republican faction.
"Though I felt a revolutionary spirit in the speech I suggest that you avoid lecturing about morality and giving moral coloring to the issue," NA Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov said in reply.
"With the proposed 2500 drams our citizens can only buy 12 loaves of bread. The bill is another threat to the country that promotes migration. No one sitting in this hall will say that he can meet his bare necessities with those 2500 drams. You lie when you say that there is no money. It is simply stolen by some people who remain unpunished," said Zaruhi Postanjyan, Secretary of the opposition Heritage faction.
Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), Naira Zohrabyan, is not surprised that the parliamentary majority has proposed a similar bill.
"I do not see any serious explanations why the minimum wage should be 35 000, and not 36 000. The bill is absolutely unacceptable for us," she said.
Head of the Republican faction, Galust Sahakyan expressed satisfaction with his colleagues' speeches saying he observed serious concerns in them.
"True, people cannot live on the money but let us vote for the amendments and then discuss all weak points," he said.
Galust Sahakyan also commented on Artsvik Minasyan's statement who said that if ‘the government is unable to raise the salary it should wave goodbye."
"One of the speakers wished goodbye to the government which gives us hope that he wants to see us again, as ‘goodbye' in Armenian means see you soon. It is a word expressing longing, love," said Mr Sahakyan.
