Tense Situation in Kotayk: Management of 'Hrazdan Cement' Deceives Over 450 Employees

Today, on June 24, a tense situation has emerged in the Kotayk region. According to local photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan, more than 450 employees of the famous 'Hrazdan Cement' plant, operating since Soviet times in Hrazdan city, have been unable to receive clear answers regarding the payment of their salaries for March, April, May, and now June.

In an interview with the photojournalist, workers stated, “It has been 4 months, including June, since we have been unable to receive our hard-earned wages, which range from 80,000 to 120,000 AMD. For 4 months, we have worked in this dust at the expense of our health. We don’t want much; we just want our salaries to be paid on time.”

“For more than 3 months, the management has been dodging the issue, saying, ‘I will pay you today, I will pay you tomorrow.’ It seems they are only interested in filling their pockets, reminiscent of the famous poem by Tumanyan, ‘Come on Friday, take it,’ as every Friday for 3 months they are just passing us by,” they added.

Employees expressed their frustration about the inhumane treatment they have received, noting that they cannot afford their utility bills, including for water and electricity, leading to service disconnections. Workers mentioned, “Our children are sick, and we are hesitant to take them to the hospital because we can’t afford the fees. Where will we get the money when our hard-earned, meager salaries are not paid by Hrazdan Cement?”

They even warned that they might resort to extreme measures, such as blocking roads, but asserted that they do not want to stoop to such levels. Instead, they are pleading for management to resolve the issue of salaries within days, if not hours, emphasizing that they know very well that the company has the funds, as they are aware of how much cement has been produced and consumed.

Currently, over 70 employees are holding a meeting with the owner, Kolya Khachaturov, at the factory. The chief accountant Robert Kokobelyan and the head of the HR department, Hrayr Kokobelyan, were also present. They stated that the responsible parties are in court, and as soon as the court makes a decision, they will pay the workers, affirming that the company does indeed have funds.

At this moment, they informed employees that a bankruptcy manager would arrive at the factory in an hour and a half to address the workers’ pressing concerns. However, it remains uncertain how they will pay for essential services such as electricity, gas, and water with these responses.