VARDAN BOSTANJYAN: THE RALLY OF THE NON-POWER PARTIES MAY RESULT IN CANCEL OF OBLIGATORY COMPONENT OF ACCUMULATIVE PENSION SYSTEM
by Nana Martirosyan
Friday, January 17, 15:16
The forthcoming large gathering-march of the non-power parties,
Armenian National congress, Heritage, Prosperous Armenia Party
and ARF Dashnaktiutyun at Yerevan's Liberty Square, on 18 January
against the new cumulative pension system, may result in cancel of
the given "reform", economist, Vardan Bostanjan, said at today's
press-conference.
"The people of Armenia do not want new pension reform, and
the political forces will support them. At the same time we must
realize it is not that easy, the model of state pensions may not
work one day, as it happened with the Soviet system. No one says the
cumulative pension plan is not necessary. The point is why do they
want to introduce it right now without any reference to the current
situation?"- Bostanjyan asked and added that he does not understand,
why foreign companies should command finances of Armenian citizens.
He said that different parties voiced criticism against pension reform,
however, the authorities did not understand absurdity of the new
system. "I would not be against the given system, if I were confident
that there are guarantees of my safe old age. But there are not such
guarantees at present", - he said. He also added that the new pension
system and raising of the gas tariffs will hit Armenian citizens
in the wallet. "And the companies which promise "to compensate"
introduction of the accumulative system simply lie, as the promised
raising of salary is an elementary bluff directed at supporting of
the regime, but not a citizen", - the economist concluded.
To recall, the voluntary accumulative pension system was introduced in
Armenia on Jan 1 2011. The system will become compulsory starting Jan
1 2014. According to the bill, the minimal pension in the country will
be equal to the minimum wage, while the basic pension will total 150%
of the minimum wage. The compulsory accumulative pension system will
apply to the citizens born after Jan 1 1974 (the citizens below 40).
Starting Jan 1 2014, 5% of their salaries will be transferred to their
personal accumulative accounts. The government will transfer a similar
amount (but no more than 25,000 drams). It is noteworthy that 6.6%-13%
and not 5% of the monthly wages will be charged, as the charges will
be made from the so-called "brutto-salary."
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=412C6F70-7F71-11E3-BCBB0EB7C0D21663
by Nana Martirosyan
Friday, January 17, 15:16
The forthcoming large gathering-march of the non-power parties,
Armenian National congress, Heritage, Prosperous Armenia Party
and ARF Dashnaktiutyun at Yerevan's Liberty Square, on 18 January
against the new cumulative pension system, may result in cancel of
the given "reform", economist, Vardan Bostanjan, said at today's
press-conference.
"The people of Armenia do not want new pension reform, and
the political forces will support them. At the same time we must
realize it is not that easy, the model of state pensions may not
work one day, as it happened with the Soviet system. No one says the
cumulative pension plan is not necessary. The point is why do they
want to introduce it right now without any reference to the current
situation?"- Bostanjyan asked and added that he does not understand,
why foreign companies should command finances of Armenian citizens.
He said that different parties voiced criticism against pension reform,
however, the authorities did not understand absurdity of the new
system. "I would not be against the given system, if I were confident
that there are guarantees of my safe old age. But there are not such
guarantees at present", - he said. He also added that the new pension
system and raising of the gas tariffs will hit Armenian citizens
in the wallet. "And the companies which promise "to compensate"
introduction of the accumulative system simply lie, as the promised
raising of salary is an elementary bluff directed at supporting of
the regime, but not a citizen", - the economist concluded.
To recall, the voluntary accumulative pension system was introduced in
Armenia on Jan 1 2011. The system will become compulsory starting Jan
1 2014. According to the bill, the minimal pension in the country will
be equal to the minimum wage, while the basic pension will total 150%
of the minimum wage. The compulsory accumulative pension system will
apply to the citizens born after Jan 1 1974 (the citizens below 40).
Starting Jan 1 2014, 5% of their salaries will be transferred to their
personal accumulative accounts. The government will transfer a similar
amount (but no more than 25,000 drams). It is noteworthy that 6.6%-13%
and not 5% of the monthly wages will be charged, as the charges will
be made from the so-called "brutto-salary."
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=412C6F70-7F71-11E3-BCBB0EB7C0D21663