Protest in front of presidential residence: Nairit workers will get 1 month's salary

Around 200 employees of Nairit Plant CSJC gathered today in front of the presidential residence. The protesters demand that their 3-4 months' salary be paid.

"We have no contacts with the administration. Accessing them is a very long procedure, and they are very inhumane. Now we want the president to call them to responsibility and remove them from their positions if they cannot operate the plant," they said.

The protesters complain that the plant administration gets minimum $1000 USD in monthly salaries whereas the average salary of ordinary workers comprises 70.000 Armenian drams.

Complaining about the situation, one of the employees of rubber laboratory - Gayane Arshakyan - said she needed money her son's treatment but her request to the Director for additional sum was rejected and she didn't even get her salary.

The workers also complain about working conditions, insisting that they will not cease the protest unless they are paid their salaries.
While the rally continued one of the protesters collapsed.

Accompanying the protesting workers was Nairit Plant CJSC's Director Vahan Melkonyan who explained the situation to the journalists.

"The factory does not operate because we faced serious financial problems after the crisis last year. We were looking forward to decisions by relevant bodies, including the Russian authorities, to finish the reconstruction and re-operate plant," he said, emphasizing the political context of the current situation.

"We face debts because 97% of the plant production is exportable while the prices on natural gas, electric and thermal energy in Armenia are very high, which prevents us from establishing compatible prices. That has nothing to do with the international market. It's a political problem because Armenia needs relevant conditions to operate such plant. If our plant is going to be treated with the same policy as the enterprises producing non-chemical products, the future of chemical industry is very dim," the Director said, adding that chemical industry consumes much energy.

"In our production, 60% of thermal energy is lost, with only the remaining 40% being used efficiently," he stressed.

Vahan Melkonyan and some of plant workers were received by Chief of Presidential Staff Karen Karapetyan.

After a discussion at the presidential residence, Mr Karapetyan approached the protesters, promising them that they would get at least 1 month's pay.

"Not getting salary for 4 months is very inhumane," he told them.

Doubtful of the promises, the workers called for the resignation of their director.

Mr Melkonyan informed the workers that the plant will start operating from February should a positive decision be made.