YEREVAN. – The National Assembly’s (NA) Prosperous Armenia [Party] (PAP) Faction cast abstaining votes to the bill on setting the new minimum wage at AMD 35,000, PAP MP and NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Vice Chairman Mikayel Melkumyan told news reporters on Monday. 

In his words, AMD 35,000 is very far from the minimum living standard and food baskets, and it cannot resolve any serious matter. Melkumyan said Armenia occupies last place in Europe in terms of the level of minimum wage, and it is ahead of solely Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan from among the CIS.     

To note, NA’s 67 MPs voted for and 7 Deputies voted against this bill, whereas 25 MPs cast abstaining votes on October 25. Pursuant to this new law, the monthly minimum wage will be AMD 35,000 (approx. $85), instead of the current 32,500 (approx. $79), as of January 1, 2013, in Armenia.