Armenian president seeks to push through social security reform

Arminfo
21 Dec 04

Yerevan, 21 December: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today held
a working meeting on the reform of the social security sphere.

The Armenian prime minister, the labour and social security minister,
the head of the State Social Security Fund and Central Bank and
representatives of other state bodies participated in the meeting,
the Armenian presidential press service told Arminfo.

The president drew the attention of the participants in the meeting to
the fact that although individual stages of the reform of the social
security system have been debated and definite steps have already
been taken by different departments, for the time being there is no
single and comprehensive programme.

“There is no document, which could in terms of its timetable and
responsibility show what needs to be done and what needs to be asked of
the relevant ministries and departments, but reforms demand coordinated
and consecutive work,” the president said.

Kocharyan said that reforms of the social security system are the
most difficult and drawn-out, but using the work already done it is
possible to elaborate a coordinated programme and from next year to
begin to implement it. “These reforms entail regulated work which
is not the job only of the Labour and Social Security Ministry. It
is necessary to involve in this a range of bodies as well. It is
necessary to understand what stage we are at and what we must do so
that next year is decisive,” Kocharyan said

The president instructed participants in the meeting to form an expert
working group, which, on the basis of the work done, will draw up a
general outline of the reforms within a month.