YEREVAN. – New but sad developments are brewing with respect to the Nairit chemical rubber plant of Armenia’s capital city Yerevan.

Nairit Press Secretary Anush Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am during last week’s meeting with the plant employees, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan had informed that the World Bank will be starting a technical audit at Nairit next March.   

The minister had also noted that it is impossible to fulfill the promise of the paying all outstanding salary debts, since there are no respective legal grounds at present. He had added, however, that they will be able to pay a one-month unpaid salary by the year’s end because New Year is coming, whereas the fate of the remaining outstanding salary debts is unknown.

Furthermore, the Nairit spokesperson said it became apparent that, as of Tuesday, all plant employees are receiving dismissal notices, and everyone will be considered laid off as of February 6, 2015.

“Massive [job] cuts will be carried out at Nairit. Subsequently, [work] contracts will be signed with close to 500-700 employees, whose work is important for the plant,” Harutyunyan stated.

In addition, however, the salaries of the employees who receive high wages will be reduced quite substantially.