The State's Goal is to Encourage All Employers to Register Their Employees

The government's goal is to encourage all employers to register their employees and ensure legal employment relationships. This statement was released by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, denying reports in several media outlets claiming that the government is preparing to divide employers into 'responsible' and 'irresponsible' groups for political purposes.

Reports have circulated in various media with headlines like 'The government is preparing a new tool under a 'beautiful' guise' and 'Employers in Armenia will be divided into 'responsible' and 'irresponsible' groups—what does this imply?' indicating that the government intends to categorize 'friendly' companies as responsible and those of its critics as irresponsible. It is also suggested that this process could be used against companies that fund or order advertisements from opposition media.

In response to the aforementioned publications, we clarify that these claims are fabrications and have no connection to reality. The state's objective is very clear: to encourage all employers to register their employees and ensure legal employment relationships. This has no political undertones—it concerns the protection of labor rights aimed at ensuring social guarantees for workers.

This approach by the state in the field of labor and employment aligns with the experiences of many countries, where government programs and interventions have helped reduce informal employment. For instance, the average level of informal employment in Europe and Central Asia is around 11.9%, while in Georgia, it has decreased from 31.7% to 27.6% in recent years. According to official data from the Statistical Committee of Armenia, the level of informal employment is projected to be 35.3% in 2024, clearly indicating the need for reform in this area.

Therefore, the measures planned by the government in this sector are aimed solely at addressing this issue and protecting workers' rights.