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Press TV, Iran
Jan 18 2014
Thousands protest against Armenia's compulsory pension plan
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Armenian capital
city of Yerevan to protest against a controversial new obligatory
pension scheme.
Around 6,000 opposition activists protested in the Liberty Square of
the capital on Saturday against the new plan, which essentially forces
all employees born after 1974 to pay 5 percent of their wages into
private pension funds.
"A government racket has come into force that allows the authorities
to put their hands into people's pockets," lawmaker of the opposition
Prosperous Armenia party, Naira Zohrabyan, said in a speech at the
rally.
She also urged the country's political forces `to unite and fight
together against the state racket.'
The South Caucasus country, which has poor economy and low living
conditions, has the highest unemployment rate in the region. The new
pension scheme could be a major drive for higher immigration from the
country.
"People's wages are their own private property and no one has the
right to tell them what to do with them," one of the protesters said.
The compulsory accumulative pension system entered into force in
Armenia on January 1, 2014.
Opponents of the compulsory pension scheme claim that the law is in
violation of citizens' rights, is unconstitutional and violates the
people's fundamental human rights and freedoms.
PG/SS
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/01/18/346373/1000s-protest-against-armenia-pension-plan/
Jan 18 2014
Thousands protest against Armenia's compulsory pension plan
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Armenian capital
city of Yerevan to protest against a controversial new obligatory
pension scheme.
Around 6,000 opposition activists protested in the Liberty Square of
the capital on Saturday against the new plan, which essentially forces
all employees born after 1974 to pay 5 percent of their wages into
private pension funds.
"A government racket has come into force that allows the authorities
to put their hands into people's pockets," lawmaker of the opposition
Prosperous Armenia party, Naira Zohrabyan, said in a speech at the
rally.
She also urged the country's political forces `to unite and fight
together against the state racket.'
The South Caucasus country, which has poor economy and low living
conditions, has the highest unemployment rate in the region. The new
pension scheme could be a major drive for higher immigration from the
country.
"People's wages are their own private property and no one has the
right to tell them what to do with them," one of the protesters said.
The compulsory accumulative pension system entered into force in
Armenia on January 1, 2014.
Opponents of the compulsory pension scheme claim that the law is in
violation of citizens' rights, is unconstitutional and violates the
people's fundamental human rights and freedoms.
PG/SS
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/01/18/346373/1000s-protest-against-armenia-pension-plan/