Manukyan Clarifies Decision to Expand Services Included in Social Package

I would like to slightly deviate from the agenda as media terror does not allow us to proceed, and it seems that we must regularly prove certain things. This is related to the social package. This was stated by Artaq Manukyan, a deputy from the 'My Step' faction at the National Assembly, who reminded that the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has already issued clarifications regarding the government's decision to expand the scope of services included in the social package.

'Let me take this opportunity to address this once again. For 8 years in Armenia, 147,000 people have benefited from the social package, none of whom are senior officials, because the law does not allow it. This means that, figuratively speaking, from library staff to department heads, for 8 years they have had the opportunity to spend 6,000 drams every month, or 72,000 drams in total. The spending opportunities are limited in 4 areas. One is for tourism service in Artsakh and Armenia, another is for healthcare services, service of loans, and tuition fees. We have all added an additional direction by law - transfers to the 'Armenia' All-Armenian Foundation.

Now, what has changed with the government's decision? By the way, I believe there is a certain trend here, because I do not understand how one can read and not understand, and write things,', the deputy stated.

He noted that the government's decision states that another opportunity has been expanded - that the 72,000 drams can now be spent on attending a swimming pool. 'That is why taxpayers do not bear any additional expenses in this regard. I do not understand why this has created media terror,' the deputy remarked.