Video: Contract Soldiers May Receive Bonuses - What Will the Certification Offer?

The National Assembly of Armenia discussed, in the first reading, a legislative initiative presented by the government, which proposes to establish a bonus and plan its calculation based on the certification of contract soldiers.

The package of draft laws amending the law on "Remuneration for State Positions and Public Service Positions" and the law on "Military Service and the Status of Military Personnel" was presented at the NA session by the Minister of Defense of Armenia, Suren Papikyan.

"To increase the attractiveness and interest of contract military service, it is proposed to establish bonuses for contract soldiers holding positions directly involved in the implementation, planning, or control of combat tasks, and to plan its calculation on the basis of those soldiers passing certification," said Papikyan.

According to the drafts, contract soldiers currently holding positions with combat task implementation, planning, or control functions will voluntarily participate in the certification conducted to calculate the bonus. Those soldiers who are newly appointed or re-enlisted from the reserve in military positions will be subject to certification no earlier than three months from the date of assuming the position and no later than the fourth month’s end.

“If certification results in the right to receive a bonus, the bonus will be calculated from the date of appointment to the position. Soldiers who do not obtain the right to receive a bonus as a result of certification can apply for re-certification no more than twice a year, and if the results grant the right to receive a bonus, it will be calculated from the date of acquiring that right,” the minister stated.

Contract soldiers who have passed certification and receive a bonus will be subject to re-certification every three years to continue receiving the bonus. The amounts and payment procedure for bonuses will be established by a government decision.