YEREVAN.- Former premier Hrant Bagratyan’s offer to raise minimum wages from AMD 32,500 to 72,500 is unbearable expense for the budget, Finance Minister said.

Minister Vache Gabrielyan said the government gave negative assessment of the legislative initiative put forward by Bagratyan, former premier and MP from the opposition bloc.

In case of raising the minimum wages, the government will have to review the wages of state-run institutions’ employees which will lead to additional expenditures of AMD 360 billion.

The official conclusion of the Finance Ministry gives milder response to Bagratyan’s offer, in particular it notes that the proposal is in accordance with the policy carried out by the Armenian government.

The medium-term expenditure strategy of the Armenian government provides for doubling the minimum wage during three years.

Photo by Sona Barseghyan