On September 2 the regular sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Health Care and Environment was held, which was presided by Gagik Mkheyan Committee Chairman.

The members of the Committee respected by a minute of silence the memory of MP Artak Arakelyan.

Co-author Hripsime Avetisyan presented the draft law “On Employers’ Unions” submitted by “United Labor Party” (ULP) faction. This draft law regulates the legal bases of the creation, functioning, reformation and dissolution of the employers’ unions. The employers have the right to voluntarily create employers’ unions in order to protect the their members’ rights in the relations with state bodies, labor unions, labor and employees. These unions will also represent their members’ legal interests in the social and labor spheres, in the economic relations.

During the sitting the convention  “Cooperation Between the RA Government and the Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees” signed in Yerevan on November 22, 2004 presented by Gegham Gharibjanyan, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was discussed. The convention envisages establishing an office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, to create conditions for carrying out activities for the benefit of refugees and international protection of other persons and other humanitarian activities corresponding to legal documents of UN. This office will operate with a status of a regional (local) office. While fulfilling the functions the office will cooperate with governmental and non-governmental organizations. According to the convention, the Republic of Armenia takes up a number of obligations in order to provide the necessary and efficient activity of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia.

Simon Papyan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection presented the draft law “On Making Additions to the Law on Secure Use of Nuclear Energy with Peaceful Purposes.” According to Mr. Papyan, the first article of the draft law suggests that the Article 18 of the law “On Secure Use of Nuclear Energy with Peaceful Purposes” should be added with the 7th part which states that the terms of the licenses being in force in the sphere of the use of nuclear energy are regulated by licensing orders.

The convention “On Minimum Age” signed in Geneva in 1973 June 6 was presented by Arcvik Minasyan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The provisions of this convention are sound with RA Constitution. According to Mr. Minasyan, the second article of the “Minimum Age” convention states that the minimum age of employment or being employed in the sphere of transport registered in the territory of the Republic of Armenia is 16.

The Committee also discussed the “The Creation of Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery” Convention signed in Geneva on June 6, 1973, the “Weekly Rest (industry)” Convention signed in Geneva on November 11, 1921, the revised “Holidays with Pay” Convention signed in Geneva in 1970 June 24, the Convention # 143 of the International Labor Organization “On Migrant Workers” signed in Geneva on June 24, 1975, the Convention #118 “Equality of Treatment (Social Security)” signed in Geneva in 1962 June 28, the revised Convention # 97 of the International Labor Organization “Migration for Employment.” The discussed bills and conventions will be put on the agenda of the sixth session of the third convocation of the NA.