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On March 18, moderated by the Committee Chair Heriknaz Tirganyan, the RA NA Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs convened an extraordinary sitting. The Report on Implementation Process and Results of the RA Government Programme for 2021 (2021-2026) approved by the N 234-A Decision of the RA Government on February 28, 2022 was debated.

As the RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan informed, in 2021, the Government continued its policy aimed at improving the living standards of the citizens and full implementation of their social rights.

The Minister noted that the development of a demographic strategy started, and in the near future, there will be a framework of actions stemming from the strategy.

During 2021, the state-supported housing programmes for families with children were reformed, within the framework of which, during 2021, 1949 beneficiaries received support in the amount of about 1.3bln AMD.

According to the Minister, the financial assistance programme for the birth of third and each subsequent child in the amount of 50.000 AMD per month, until and including the month of the child reaching the age of 6 years came into force from January 1 of this year. Since the beginning of the year, the amount of the minimum pension, pensions and benefits has been slightly increased. Changes have been made in order of providing social package, the range of services provided has been expanded.

In 2021, allocations from the state budget were made for the activities of support centers and shelters for victims of domestic violence. 1516 beneficiaries of victims of domestic violence applied to the support centers and received assistance, and 160 beneficiaries used the services of shelters. In addition to providing social-psychological and legal assistance envisaged by the legislation to victims of domestic violence in those centers, they also provided guidance and support in acquiring skills, capacity building and finding sustainable job.

Narek Mkrtchyan said that more than 1.1bln AMD from the state budget of the previous year was allocated to the residents of 23 border communities and 81 settlements for the partial compensation of natural gas, electricity, irrigation water tariffs, and for the full compensation of property tax and land tax. The process of paying lower tariffs for natural gas and electricity consumed by socially vulnerable families also continued.