Thousands of Syrian Armenians who have immigrated to Armenia as a result of the civil war erupted in Syria have an employment problem. The Ministry of Diaspora has asked employment agencies in Armenia to support Syrian Armenians in finding jobs as much as they can. Agencies try to find jobs for them free of charge these days. Firdus Zakaryan, the chief of staff, Ministry of Diaspora, said during a conversation with www.aravot.am that 20-25 Syrian Armenians had already found jobs. The ministry has sent 20-21 doctors and pharmacists to the Ministry of Healthcare, in order that this institution solves their employment problem. Mr. Zakaryan says that the main issue at the moment is not finding jobs for them, but rather the uncertainty of many Syrians who cannot make a final decision whether to stay in Armenia or to return to Syria. According to the data the chief of staff has, in the year 2012, 3600 out of 5300 Syrian Armenians who came to Armenia have returned home. In response to our question whether they thought there were no prospects in Armenia and returned to Syria for that reason, Mr. Zakaryan said, “The majority of them came to rest and to get passports and they have returned home to look after their property.”
However, about 300 Syrian Armenians have made a final decision to stay in Armenia. Another 700 Syrian Armenians who aren’t sure about staying in Armenia, according to Firdus Zakaryan, have already sent children to school. 600-700 Syrian Armenians are going to Syria in the next few days. In response to an observation of www.aravot.am that some Syrian Armenian businessmen complained about our taxation system, Mr. Zakaryan said that the majority of them faced problems because of the lack of knowledge about the laws.
www.aravot.am inquired of the Mega Jobs employment agency what jobs they offered to Syrian Armenians usually. Marine Hovasapyan, the director of the agency, informed that many of the Syrian Armenians who had applied to them were brilliant mechanics and employers immediately took such specialists, but a problem arose with the salary, “In Armenia, the salary offered to them is low and Syrian Armenians are reluctant to agree to work for such a salary. Our employers offer up to 150 thousand AMD, there are some employers who offer piecework and people have a problem with earning their living and they need time to find customers.” M. Hovasapyan also said that Syrian Armenians were also good welders, goldsmiths, but there was almost no demand for goldsmiths. A few Syrian Armenians have already found jobs through this agency. As for working as waiters or in services, M. Hovasapyan said that the approach of Syrian Armenians to that issue was a bit different and not all kinds of work they agreed to do.
Lusine BUDAGHYAN
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