It is proposed to create legal bases for allocating sum of money in the amount of 15 percent from the state budget to the salary fund of the Public Defender Office to be paid for the overtime work done by the public defenders. The necessity of the adoption of the draft is conditioned by two key factors: every year by the stable increase of the load of the Public Defender Office, as well as the circumstance of entering into force of the new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code from July 1, 2022. Despite the last increase of the public defenders’ quantity, their current quantity also does not allow the latter not to be involved in the overtime work. The public defenders are on duty on non-working days and hours, including the night hours. They do overtime and night work, but they are not paid additionally. The TA Deputy Minister of Justice Levon Balyan informed about this, presenting the regulations being proposed to the law on Advocacy at the NA sitting. The issue was debated in the first reading. It was noted that 15% surcharge will be allocated only for overtime work, according to the work done. That surcharge will not be given to Head and Deputy Heads of the Office.
The Secretary of the NA Civil Contract Faction Artur Hovhannisyan noted that the public defenders carry out the protection of rights of the social concrete groups. “How many public defenders are there? How much is their average salary, so we will understand about the increase of the sum of money?” the deputy inquired.
The Deputy Minister clarified that the public defenders receive 395.000 AMD salary, as a result of the adoption of the draft, additional 15% will be added.
According to the member of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Marina Ghazaryan, the adoption of the draft will promote the involvement, preservation of the qualified personnel for the public defender’s work, as well as the execution of the right to receiving additional salary for the overtime and night work. The Committee endorsed the draft.