YEREVAN. – Employees of the Nairit chemical plant in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, will file a lawsuit with the court, and on the grounds of being “blackmailed,” said Nairit former Press Secretary Anush Harutyunyan, at a press conference on Wednesday. 

She noted that, to receive their overdue salaries, they were forced to sign a contract and waive the requirement to also be paid the penalties and fines for the delay in the payment of their wage arrears.

“That is, to receive solely the principal amount, and if not, we can go to court,” said Harutyunyan. “[But] all those who petitioned to the court and the court ruled in favor of the lawsuit (…) were also told ‘you must waiver the penalties and fines to receive salaries;’ that is, the court decision was not executed, which I consider blackmail and coercion toward us.” 

The wages arrears of all Nairit workers are paid in full as of Tuesday.  

These due salaries were paid by the state, and on the account of the profits of state-run energy companies.

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

The Nairit chemical plant, which manufactures synthetic rubber, does not operate since April 2010.