Presidential staff chief Vigen Sargsyan to receive Nairit workers

Workers of Yerevan’s Nairit chemical plant held a protest today outside the Armenian presidential residence. They demand a meeting with the head of state.

According to the plant’s trade union head Hrach Tadevosyan, they have two demands: payment of the full amount of their back wages and suspension of the process of issuing layoff notices.  He said a group of 7 workers was set up to meet with Chief of the Armenian Presidential Staff Vigen Sargsyan.

Protesters said the government plans to reduce the number of jobs at the plant to 600. In their words, their wages are not paid intentionally. “The plant’s money was embezzled and we do not receive wages for that reason,” a worker told the correspondent of Aysor.am. “Our patience’s cup is filled. The matter concerns a whole group, not a person. We will no longer listen to anyone. We will fight to the finish,” the worker added.

At the same time the protesters told reporters that they rely on the president’s assistance with solution of their problems.

Director of Nairit Plant CJSC Ruben Saghatelyan said for his part when speaking about termination of labor contracts that about 1,500 employees have been temporarily laid off for 4 years, which resulted in accumulation of additional debt. He expressed hope that the Armenian government will deal with the problem.  

A number of political and public figures came to support the plant workers. Among them was Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian who declined to talk to reporters.

As was reported earlier, on December 3 Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources  Yervand Zakharyan said that Nairit Plant workers received wages for one month and they would receive wages for another month by December 15, given the fact the New Year holidays are ahead, but there will be no full repayment of back wages. As regards rumors about the possible reduction of the plant staff starting from February 2015, Zakharyan said that the ministry does not deal with staff reduction issues.