YEREVAN. – A total of 350 of the 2,270 workers of the Nairit Chemical Factory—in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan—, and who demand their unpaid wages, have not yet signed the agreement on waiving the requirement to also be paid the penalties and fines for the delay in the payment of their wage arrears.

Nairit former Press Secretary Anush Harutyunyan on Thursday told the above-said to Armenian News-NEWS.am. She added that the deadline for signing this agreement is Friday.

In Harutyunyan’s words, the Nairit employees hope that, according to the promise given by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan, the payment of these due salaries will start on July 28, at the latest.

“To be honest, we are not full of hope, but we do have hope,” said Anush Harutyunyan. “It’s impossible to be full of hope after deceiving us this much; but we are not losing hope because our demand is fair.”

The total debt of Nairit chemical rubber plant—which no longer operates since April 2010—had amounted to 102 billion drams (approx. $215,184,825). The employees’ current salary debt totals 5 billion 310 million drams (approx. US$11,087,500).

The workers have assembled outside the Government Building and the Office of the President numerous times, and demanded a solution to their salary-related problems.

According to the Nairit employees, they were promised the payment of their outstanding salaries solely if they waive the requirement to also be paid the penalties and fines for the delay in the payment of their wage arrears.

The salaries will be paid by the state, and on the account of the profits of state-run energy companies.