Haypost to pay first pensions on January 4-5 in 2011

Retirement benefits for December 2010 will be paid from January 4 to 5 next year, Armenia's Minister of Labor and Social Issues Arthur Grigoryan said, following the signing of an agreement between the ministry and Haypost.

Based on the agreement, as of now the retirement benefits in Yerevan will be paid in cash through Haypost too.

The move follows a government decision to dissolve the state service of the payment of social benefits, which was in charge of paying the social and retirement benefits in Yerevan.

In provinces the retirement and social benefits are paid through Haypost already.

Speaking to journalists after the signing of the agreement, Grigoryan said that from next year on pensions will be paid in two ways - in cash and non-cash.

The payment in cash will be made by Haypost, while the non-cash payments will be made through the banks that will sign agreements with the ministry.

Paying the retirements benefits through Haypost, according to Grigoryan, will eliminate corruption that was widespread previously.

He also assured the journalists that Haypost will make the payments in due time and will also send notes to Yerevan residents, sending them the addresses of the post offices that will deliver services to them.

Grigoryan further said that some of the employees of the state service of the payment of social benefits (about 300) will receive a relevant training and will be employed by Haypost.