In the extraordinary sitting of March 28, the NA Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs debated and took note of the parts of the report on the process and the results of the implementation of the RA Government Programme (2021-2026) for 2023, related to the relevant fields.
The RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan presented in detail the works carried out in the fields of labor and social protection in 2023, specifically noting that the Government’s 2021-2026 programme is planning to align the minimum pension with the food basket by 2026, and the average pension with the minimum consumption basket.
The target set for the food basket in 2023 has been exceeded. According to the indicator of the 4th quarter of 2023, the minimum pension exceeded the food basket by 11%.
From July 1, the minimum pension has increased: 36.000 AMD instead of 31.600 AMD, the cost of a year of military service – 1.750 AMD instead of 1.600 AMD, the amount of disability pension for a regular member of compulsory military service, etc.
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According to the Minister, many families in 80 border villages have started building their own houses within the framework of the state support programme (16 million AMD) for providing affordable housing for families in the border settlements of the Republic of Armenia. As of the end of the year, the number of the approved applications was 280, the construction works of 153 houses actually started, namely, 152 in Tavush, 41 in Syunik, 34 in Ararat, 32 in Vayots Dzor, 21 in Gegharkunik.
As of the end of the year, about 9.070 loans were subsidized within the framework of the Affordable housing for young families state programme, with a total volume of about 6.4 billion AMD.
Referring to the poverty indicators, Narek Mkrtchyan noted that average poverty continued to decrease.
Extreme poverty also decreased, in particular, the indicator for 2022 decreased by 0.3 percentage points compared to 2021, making 1.2%.
The Minister answered the deputies’ questions and observations and gave clarifications. The MPs emphasized the importance of training the employees of the Unified Social Service, considering it necessary for the latter to explain clearly the reasons for the decisions made to the citizens.
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
