The Armenian Parliament approved, in their first reading, draft amendments to the Labor Code of Armenia.

The ruling coalition members failed to clearly explain the need for the amendments. In fact, the ruling parties and the Government thereby legalize forced overtime.

The Parliament member Larisa Alaverdyan stated earlier that, in the current grave socio-economic conditions, numerous Armenian employers practice forced overtime, despite the Labor Code prohibitions.

Members of the Heritage and ARF-D parliamentary factions said that the ruling parties are trying to legalize exploitation thereby violating employees’ rights. The ARF-D member Artsvik Minasyan criticized Hakob Hakobyan, Chairman of the Committee on Social Affairs, who had staunchly supported amendments to the relevant law that envisaged reduction of maternity pays. “Later, when the Government realized its own blunder because of public response and decided to withdraw the bill, Hakobyan was passionately arguing for that. We are seeing the same now. He is now arguing for the amendments, but when they prove erroneous, he will be advocating a different document,” Minasyan said.

The Armenian Labor Code provides for a 40-hour working week. However, the coalition=proposed draft amendments envisage overtime.