Study on Budget Expenditures Related to the New Coronavirus Pandemic Reveals Discrepancies

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia has come under the scrutiny of the Audit Chamber. According to the "Hayastani Zhoghovurd" newspaper, the Audit Chamber has examined budget expenditures related to the new coronavirus pandemic, resulting in several discrepancies, some of which the ministry's explanations have not been accepted by the Chamber.

Before addressing the discrepancies, it is important to note that in order to organize round-the-clock care services for the elderly and persons with disabilities over the age of 18, a branch of the “Norqi Home-Internat” State Non-Commercial Organization was established in Agavnadzor. It has been revealed that this branch purchased floor linoleum worth 1 million 53 thousand drams, yet the audit reported that the execution act for this purchase is missing. In addition, according to a documented invoice for 241 thousand drams, partial renovations were carried out in the branch’s building, yet the execution act was again absent.

Furthermore, during the audit, it was found that 10 employees were actually working for other organizations. Meanwhile, 19 employees accepted at the branch had no functions within the framework of the program, yet they were still paid salaries amounting to about 1.6 million drams. Additionally, in June, contracts to be signed with employees lacked the employer’s signature, meaning that the compensation amounting to around 8.1 million drams awarded under those contracts is not properly justified legally,” the newspaper writes.

The full article can be read in today’s issue of the newspaper.