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Economists comment on increased pensions, officials' salaries in Armenia
13:05 - 12.01.14
January 1, 2014, saw a 15% average increase in pensions.
Specifically, 111,900 pensioners had their pensions increased by 25%,
180,000 pensioners had their pensioned increased by 15 to 20 per cent,
and 93,000 had their pensioned increased by 20%. People with length of
service of 69 years and up had their relatively high monthly pensions,
AMD 70,000 (about $180) increased by 3 to 8 per cent.
At the same time, from January 1, 2014, MPs' monthly salary was raised
from AMD 331,595 up to AMD 661,400. The salaries of the standing
committees' chairpersons were raised up to AMD 793,680. Other
officials' salaries were raised as well.
Tert.am turned to economists for comments.
Vardan Bostanjyan, an ex-member of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
parliamentary group, said: `In terms of pensions, Armenia is among the
few states where, following the solidarity principle, the government
itself pays pensions. By raising pensions little by little, they try
to enable old people to provide for themselves.'
As to officials' increased salaries, he noted: `I can assure you that
their number is within 300. When I was an MP, I studied the issue and
found out that Armenian officials' salaries were lowest in the world.
It is a negative phenomenon, and salaries must be raised for this
problem to be gradually solved. We know that decision-makers are well
paid throughout the world. Another question is that they are not
properly doing their job. As to pensioners, we have 500,000 of them.
The government is unable to sharply increase their pensions.'
Bostanjyan hopes that Armenia will get out of the current critical
situation. He forecasts a price decline.
`I have arrived at the conclusion that, as part of a larger structure,
such as the Customs Union, we will resolve some of our problems
without putting our sovereignty at risk,' he said.
For her part, an Armenian National Congress (ANC) party member Zoya
Tadevosyan told Tert.am that raising officials' salaries in such a
poor country as Armenia cannot be justified.
`Even their previous salary, AMD 300,000 a month, was several times as
high as the minimum monthly wages in the country. I think the MPs,
with businessmen among them, might have been satisfied with their
previous salary. If the government has available funds, it must direct
them to raise pensions, because pensions and rather low in Armenia.'
Armenian News - Tert.am
13:05 - 12.01.14
January 1, 2014, saw a 15% average increase in pensions.
Specifically, 111,900 pensioners had their pensions increased by 25%,
180,000 pensioners had their pensioned increased by 15 to 20 per cent,
and 93,000 had their pensioned increased by 20%. People with length of
service of 69 years and up had their relatively high monthly pensions,
AMD 70,000 (about $180) increased by 3 to 8 per cent.
At the same time, from January 1, 2014, MPs' monthly salary was raised
from AMD 331,595 up to AMD 661,400. The salaries of the standing
committees' chairpersons were raised up to AMD 793,680. Other
officials' salaries were raised as well.
Tert.am turned to economists for comments.
Vardan Bostanjyan, an ex-member of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
parliamentary group, said: `In terms of pensions, Armenia is among the
few states where, following the solidarity principle, the government
itself pays pensions. By raising pensions little by little, they try
to enable old people to provide for themselves.'
As to officials' increased salaries, he noted: `I can assure you that
their number is within 300. When I was an MP, I studied the issue and
found out that Armenian officials' salaries were lowest in the world.
It is a negative phenomenon, and salaries must be raised for this
problem to be gradually solved. We know that decision-makers are well
paid throughout the world. Another question is that they are not
properly doing their job. As to pensioners, we have 500,000 of them.
The government is unable to sharply increase their pensions.'
Bostanjyan hopes that Armenia will get out of the current critical
situation. He forecasts a price decline.
`I have arrived at the conclusion that, as part of a larger structure,
such as the Customs Union, we will resolve some of our problems
without putting our sovereignty at risk,' he said.
For her part, an Armenian National Congress (ANC) party member Zoya
Tadevosyan told Tert.am that raising officials' salaries in such a
poor country as Armenia cannot be justified.
`Even their previous salary, AMD 300,000 a month, was several times as
high as the minimum monthly wages in the country. I think the MPs,
with businessmen among them, might have been satisfied with their
previous salary. If the government has available funds, it must direct
them to raise pensions, because pensions and rather low in Armenia.'
Armenian News - Tert.am