Cabinet approves bill on making changes in government’s structure

Armenia’s justice minister Artak Zeynalyan briefed at the cabinet sitting today on the bill of changes in the government’s structure. According to it, it is expected to cut the number of ministries from 17 to 12 and have one deputy PM instead of two.

The bill also suggests that hence with the decision of the PM the cabinet sittings will be held in fully closed regime and not partially closed.

Responding to the bill, the PM said that this is a long discussed bill which has already been perceived by the people.

“Our main goal is to raise the efficiency of state governance and efficiency of relations with Diaspora as there are problems in the mentioned two directions. But we have chosen a balanced way to follow, the process will be calm, no staff pogroms will be registered, the ministries’ employees will be consolidated. Job cuts will be registered, but they will be of evolution logic with each employee having a chance to prove his/her efficiency,” the PM said, adding that they will evaluate employees' work objectively.

“We must review the quality of our own work in general, the work of our department, in near future we must solve an unpopular issue. Only highly qualified staff must work in the state governance system,” the PM said.

The bill has also envisaged change of the names of merged ministries.

The cabinet approved the bill. It will be sent to the National Assembly.