YEREVAN. – Employees of Nairit chemical plant demanding repayment of their wages are likely not to stage protest actions till the end of this month, former spokesperson for the plant Anush Harutyunyan told reporters.

“The Nairit employees are really hopeful that the wages will be paid within 12 days as promised by the minister,” she said.

Some of them are doubtful about the promise and assure they will take further moves unless the wages are paid.

On Thursday, the plant employees started signing the agreements regarding the waiving of penalties and fines for the delay in the payment of their outstanding salaries. Subsequently, the staff of two Nairit production facilities will receive their due wages within five days.

The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Yervand Zakharyan, had recently met with a group of former employees of Nairit. He had told them there was a discussion with the President and the Prime Minister on the Nairit issue, and upon the President’s instruction, the wage debts shall be paid by no later than Wednesday, July 15.

A total of 1,700 Nairit workers were formally discharged as of February 6. At this point, the total debt of Nairit chemical rubber plant—which no longer operates—amounts to 102 billion drams (approx. $215,184,825). Around $15 million of these arrears are the 18 to 24 months of unpaid wages of the plant employees.

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.