News from Tanger recruiting company and Armenian employment market

2012-12-04 Labour Migration and Employment of Foreign Nationals in the Republic of Armenia - the Rights and Responsibilities

Labour Migration and Employment of Foreign Nationals in the Republic of Armenia - the Rights and Responsibilities

On November 30th, the International Center for Human Development (ICHD), ) in cooperation with International Organization for Migration (IOM) and with the support of European Union in the frameworks of the project the “Strengthening Evidence-Based Management of Labor Migration in Armenia” organized a round table on the theme " The employment and work of foreign nationals in the Republic of Armenia and the analysis of legislation concerning the labor migration of citizens of the Republic of Armenia”

After the presentation of the analysis the representatives of the working group discussed the possible suggestions of changes in the legislation. We would like to focus on one of the proposed changes that caused a heated debate. The change refers to the acquisition of the right of foreign nationals to work in Armenia.

Currently, all foreign nationals after receiving a temporary residence permit and social card gain the right to work in Armenia. The new legislation besides a temporary residence permit and social card involves the right to work. How will this work? A candidate goes to the employer to get a job, for this the employer must apply to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs or the State Employment Service, where he should be offered a possible alternative unemployed worker of Armenian citizenship. In case he can’t find the above mentioned candidate, the employer is entitled to hire the foreign employee. Knowing our bureaucracy, this procedure can last more than months.

Based on our experience, no employer will wait a long time for filling the vacancy. Taking into consideration that mainly our compatriots from the CIS countries (with Russian, Ukrainian or other citizenship) come to Armenia, trying to find a job and wishing to live in Armenia, the new law won’t give our compatriots an opportunity to gain a foothold in the homeland.

In our opinion, the law is not quite actual for Armenia, as for large megacities of the world that have a large influx of migrants. In case of the need of creation of national ideology, maintaining the integrity and unity of our state and nation, such change in the legislation seems like a diversion.

Who needs it and why? In order to show that we comply with European standards? The adoption of such laws, and blind desire to ratify the various European conventions without considering the specificity of the Armenian market and social foundations, not taking into account both the global and the local interests of the citizens , can lead Armenia to stalemate.

If it is so necessary to make such law, then in our opinion the only alternative is the provision of the possibility to acquire the right to work and temporary residence permit simultaneously, which will allow the non - citizens of Armenia apply the potential employer and immediately to start to work having already the work permit.

Nana Heruni the managing director of Tanger Recruitment company and Chair of Republican Armenian Employers Sectorial Union of Private Employment Agencies also took part in the roundtable meeting.

List of invited organizations

Government and Public Administrations

1.Administration of the President of RA

2.Government Staff of the Republic of Armenia

3.Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia

4.Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia

5.Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia

6.Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia

7.National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia

8.National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia

9.Police of the Republic of Armenia

10.State Migration Service, Ministry of Territorial Administration of the Republic of Armenia