Kerobyan on His Recent Statement About Repatriating Migrant Workers

Acting Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan addressed the media following a government meeting regarding his statement that relatives who have gone abroad should be repatriated. He clarified that it was a tongue-in-cheek remark, emphasizing that there are numerous job opportunities in Armenia.

“I said it jokingly, but my intention was to highlight that there are countless jobs in Armenia, and those who are trying their luck abroad can definitely find good employment here, especially in the sectors I mentioned,” said Kerobyan.

Kerobyan pointed out that there is even a shortage of shepherds in Armenia. “In villages, there is a lack of shepherds; they are unable to find them and are forced to bring in shepherds from different countries,” he noted.

According to Kerobyan, there are the most job postings online in various sectors. He mentioned that the poverty rate has deteriorated worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic. The official indicated that there is a distorted situation in Armenia, where many people are dependent on welfare and remain in poverty instead of seeking jobs. He encouraged them to change their lifestyle, abandon benefits, and enter normal economic activities.

Referring to the demand for shepherds, he mentioned it as an example: “I can provide other examples as well. In Sevan, there is a pedigree sheep farm that is looking for shepherds, offering a salary of 200,000 drams per month. They are trying to find people from Tajikistan or other countries to work for them. In Spitak, there is an agribusiness company whose employees are Indians. I can cite many such examples at a time when local farmers are not working.”

When asked by a journalist if his call would encourage citizens to come to Armenia and work in the areas he mentioned, Kerobyan recalled that he had appointed two deputy ministers, both of whom came from abroad, and that his advisers are from leading European countries.