EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICIES OF ARMENIA ARE NOT IN
KEEPING WITH EACH OTHER, ECONOMIST EDWARD AGHAJANOV SAYS
01-05-2008 23:00:00 | Armenia | Economy
YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The structure of the
population's employment in any country depends on the economic
structure of the given country but in Armenia the employment and
economic policies are not in keeping with each other, economist
Edward Aghajanov expressed an opinion at the May 1 press
conference. According to him, the intention of the Armenian
authorities to create a knowledge-based - innovation economy
should result in a change of the structure of employment and
labor in the country: the appropriate specialists are needed for
the country's innovation economic development. "Is there a
speciality, is there a higher educational institution in Armenia
that prepares personnel for 21st century's economy?" he asked.
In his words, the problem of obsolescence of knowledge
currently exists in the world. "The world is developing rapidly,
with knowledge becoing obsolescent in parallel with this," he
remarked. In this respect, 45-55-year-olds have difficulty in
finding a job. E. Aghajanov said that the most successful
solution to the problem was found in the U.S. where a
postgraduate education system was introduced, which allows
persons of the indicated age group to "refresh their knowledge".
No policy in this direction is conducted in Armenia.
Besides, according to E. Aghajanov, there is a problem of
legalization of jobs and salaries in Armenia. "Our country is
unique in that 85 workers keep 100 pensioners, and this happens
in the case when a very low level of unemployment as compared
with other countries - 7.1% is registered here," he said, adding
that problem is in hidden salaries and workers. He pointed out
that in Armenia jobs are created only through small business.
As for the minimum consumer basket, E. Aghajanov said that
according to official statistics, the average monthly salary
makes 76,992 drams (about 250 USD) in Armenia, which cannot
ensure the minimum consumer basket. Thus, in his words, a
working man may also be poor.