On 18 June, the results of the presentation and closing ceremony of the “Monitoring of the Workers’ Rights” sub-grant project implemented by the “International Society for Human Rights” NGO in the scope of the EU funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project took place.
Mr. Marat Atovmyan, Mentors Group Coordinator of CCD project, Mentor of Justice and Related Sectors, delivered a welcoming speech at the event. He welcomed the participants and presenting the CCD Project..
Ms Alvard Arshakyan, representative of the Health Care and Labor Inspectorate, presented the work done to improve the working conditions of the employees of shops. It was providing awareness-raising seminars to almost all network supermarkets. She also highlighted the work carried out within the framework of the project, monitoring results, and their announcement.
It was emphasized that both the employers and the workers have been informed and, in fact, having no positive situational change, they however have begun answering the questions in compliance with the requirement of law.
Ms Lilit Avdalyan and Ms Elen Manaseryan analysts of the research team presented the research methodology, monitoring surveys, in-depth interviews, widespread violations of workers’ rights in supermarkets (working without a labor contract, overtime work, including night work, working for 12, and sometimes more hours, with only 15 minutes break, not using the annual and monthly rest, the compulsory condition of standing for 12 hours, etc.), the legal basis for problem analysis, recommendations developed based on them.
It should be noted that the organization of polls was a challenging task, as the workers, in most cases, were afraid of being deprived of their jobs, and did not want to participate in the survey.
Mr. Boris Karatyan, Deputy Chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia, presented the powers of the Trade Unions in the protection of workers’ healthy and safe working conditions.
Mr. Artur Asoyan , Head of the Inspection Service Coordination Office, spoke about the scope of the powers of the inspection bodies. He expressed readiness to work with CSOs.
Ms Nune Hovhannisyan, National Coordinator of the ILO, and Ms Anahit Tovmasyan, member of the Working Group on Protection of the Rights of the Employees, also made speeches.
In the end, Ms Bella Shikaryan, “Monitoring of the Workers’ Rights” Project Manager noted that the report prepared within the scope of the project will be submitted to relevant authorities
She also added that the response to the report will be consistent and their activities within the framework of the CCD Project will be of continuous nature in order to record certain improvements in the sector.
