New Law for Parents with Children Under 12

The government of Armenia has approved a draft law on amendments and supplements to the Labor Code of the Republic of Armenia, which aims to introduce the concept of "parental time." The draft was presented at the cabinet meeting by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Artyom Smbatyan.

According to Smbatyan, the draft has been developed to implement new social protection regulations for workers with children. "The draft proposes to define the term 'parental time.' Specifically, it is proposed that a parent caring for a child under the age of 12, as well as a parent caring for a child under 18 with severe disabilities or significant limitations, including foster parents, adoptive parents, or guardians, will be entitled to parental time," Smbatyan noted.

The draft stipulates that parents with up to two children will be granted parental time of a maximum duration of 30 minutes per day with maintained salary. Parents with three or more children will be allowed to be absent from work for a maximum of one hour per day. At the same time, parents of a child under 18 with severe disabilities or significant limitations will be able to use parental time of a maximum of one hour per day, regardless of the number of children.

The Deputy Minister stated that the proposed regulations aim to enhance social protection for workers and expand opportunities for balancing work and family life.