Եվրոպայի հանրային ծառայությունների աշխատողների արհմիությունը (EPSU), սատարելով Հայաստանի պետհիմնարկների արհմիությանը, դիմել է Հայաստանի վարչապետ Կարեն Կարապետյանին` պետական ոլորտում կրճատումներ վերաբերյալ։ Ստորև բերվում է նամակի ամբողջական տեքստը․
On violation of the principles of social partnership
Dear Mr. Prime Minister, Dear Mr. Karapetyan,
In February 2016, the Agreement on Political Cooperation between the Republican Party of Armenia and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party Dashnaktsutyun was signed at the residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia. The Parties committed to ensure ‘decent existence, poverty reduction, corporate social responsibility’ to the people of Armenia.
Recently the government announced structural reforms that will start with large-scale lay-offs, often up to 30% of employees of state bodies. And that in a context in which unemployment is as high as 30% of the working population.
In this regard, the Republican Union of Professional Organisations of the Workers of State Enterprises, Municipality Authorities and Public Services of Armenia, affiliated with the European Federation of Public Service Unions, which represents over 8 million public service workers, and is a recognised social partner in the European Union, considers it inadmissible to introduce such reforms without proper public discussions and social dialogue.
Since the announcement, the workers of state and local governments, including 12.000 trade union members, are fearing to be laid off at any time. They and their families lose confidence in the future.
As the decisions to restructure and lay-off public employees was made without consultations with the social partners, we urge you to stop this process. There are other ways to find solutions to the budgetary problem the government faces.
We agree with our Armenian colleagues that a public discussion of the problems involving all stakeholders can assist in this.
The lay-offs will not solve the economic problems Armenia faces. It will leave many workers and their families without income. This will exacerbate the economic problem the country faces.
Dear Prime Minister,
I understand that when you presented the recent programme of the Government you said that “The programme is the vision of our team for the development of Armenia. I want to emphasize that during the work on the programme we held discussions with the former prime ministers, ministers as well as numerous experts.” You also worked with the parties of the coalition. However, the unions representing the workers in Armenia were not consulted.
We believe this violates core international conventions Armenia has signed. It is a signatory to the International Labour Organization Conventions No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and No. 98 on Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.
These conventions set out that the Government should consult the employers and trade unions on all major issues relating to the social and economic situation of working people.
Further the Tripartite Agreement signed by Cabinet of Ministers, the Confederation of Trade Unions and the Union of Employers of Armenia foresees such consultation. That agreement sets out that the government will respect the social and labour rights of workers. The main objective of that Agreement is to reduce unemployment and create new jobs.
But these consultations did not take place with regard to the latest reform proposals.
The Republican Union of Professional Organisations of the Workers of State Enterprises, Municipality Authorities and Public Services of Armenia has made clear that they share the ambitions and objectives of the government to raise the standard of living of the people and work for a better future as the Prime Minister has stated.
Our colleagues insist that there is a need for public discussion on the implementation of these objectives and ambitions. Without this dialogue with the unions it will be impossible to achieve one of the tasks you have set yourself “increasing citizens’ trust in the political institutions, their active participation in creation of a fair and competitive environment […] changing the system of public administration, local authorities, making it modern, flexible and efficient.”
I ask you to accept the trade union proposal for discussion, consultation and participation of the social partners in the public administration reform.
The EPSU is closely following the developments in Armenia. We will work with our colleagues to support workers and ensure fundamental workers’ rights.
Kind regards,
Jan Willem Goudriaan
EPSU General Secretary