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Young Scholars Quit Armenian State Jobs Over Pension Reform

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  • Young Scholars Quit Armenian State Jobs Over Pension Reform

    Young Scholars Quit Armenian State Jobs Over Pension Reform

    September 2, 2014


    Azatutyun - Dozens of young specialists are resigning from Armenia's
    state-run universities and research institutes in order to be able to
    opt out of a controversial national retirement plan introduced by the
    government.

    The new system requires workers born after 1973 to earn most of their
    future pensions by contributing sums equivalent to 10 percent of their
    gross wages to private pension funds until their retirement. The
    reform, initially introduced in January, met with fierce resistance
    from many affected Armenians, most of them employed by private firms,
    and was effectively blocked by the Constitutional Court in April.

    The government responded by making the pension reform mandatory only
    for 65,000 or so public sector employees. A government bill approved
    by parliament in June allowed people working for private entities not
    to be covered by the new system until July 2017.

    The vast majority of private sector employees are believed to have
    opted for a three-year deferment. But those of them who also have
    part-time public sector jobs are denied such a choice, with tax
    authorities also making the sizable deductions from their wages paid
    by private employers.

    Among them are young academics and scientists. Several dozen of them
    have decided to quit state-run universities and research centers that
    are part of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.

    Four such specialists have until now taught at the microelectronics
    department of the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA),
    while having well-paid jobs in the country's burgeoning information
    technology sector. The department chief, Vahe Buniatian, admitted on
    Monday that he will have serious trouble replacing them by other
    skilled lecturers.

    Ara Simonian, the rector of Yerevan State University (YSU), said on
    Monday that a dozen of his young lecturers also employed in the
    private sector have likewise tendered their resignations. He said many
    others are ready to follow suit if the authorities fail to make the
    reform optional for them before the end of this year.

    "We have raised our concerns with the education minister [Armen
    Ashotian,]" Simonian told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
    "Mr. Ashotian is aware of the problem. The minister believes that the
    problem is understandable and he hopes that it will find some
    solution."

    The YSU rector could not say, however, what concrete solution could be
    proposed by the government.

    "You can't solve a problem with concerns," said Tigran Grigorian, a
    young scientist leaving the National Academy of Sciences. "Concrete
    steps are needed."


    http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/47778

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