YEREVAN. – All social services in Armenia will be provided by a single agency: the State Office of Integrated Social Services. Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Mesrop Arakelyan stated this at Wednesday’s special session of the National Assembly, during the discussion of the package of bills on amendments to the Law on Social Assistance and related laws.

According to the minister, these law amendments are aimed at introducing an integrated social services system in Armenia. "It is assumed that the introduction of this system will increase the effectiveness of social protection of citizens, as well as the quality of social services. A comprehensive and complete package of services will be provided to families—in accordance with their social needs," the minister explained.

This system of integrated social services will be introduced on April 1. The aforesaid single agency envisages the inclusion of several current social security agencies; these are medical and social expertise and employment offices, regional social protection agencies, and the Social Security Service.