"Dear compatriots,
I congratulate you on May 1, the International Day of Labor and Workers' Solidarity.
This holiday is another occasion to highlight the importance of protecting the labor rights of every person.
A number of problems related to the proper realization of labor rights remain actual in our republic.
Our studies and examination of received complaints allow us to record the existing problems in the context of ensuring safe and dignified working conditions, right to rest, fair pay, including the right to be paid for overtime work, and the need for additional efforts in that direction.
As in previous years, in 2023, one of the most common problems related to labor rights was the problem of not completing the final settlement with employees upon dismissal, not completing it, or not observing the deadline set by the legislation. I made a detailed reference to the latter within the framework of the annual report summarizing the activities of the Human Rights Defender.
In 2023, complaints received by the Defender's Office raised the problem of lack of selection criteria among the employees occupying the reduced position when dismissing them on the basis of reduction of positions.
The issue of excluding discrimination in the labor market also remains problematic. In this regard, it is especially important to address the problem of lower participation of women in the labor market, to provide legislative and practical effective structures for the exclusion of sexual harassment in the workplace. In addition, the continuation of efforts aimed at ensuring the labor rights of persons with disabilities, including an accessible working environment, is paramount.
I also consider it important to take appropriate measures of state control over the provision of labor rights in the private sector, as well as the implementation of measures aimed at increasing the level of awareness of labor rights among employees and employers.
I wish all of us effective and creative work and emphasize the need for continuous active steps by the competent authorities of RA in the direction of strengthening proper structures for the protection of labor rights."
