Third congress of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia

In his opening remarks to the congress Gagik Makaryan, chairman of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia, expressed gratitude to the minister of labour and social issues, the Confederation of Trade Unions and the International Labour Organization for attending the event and for effective cooperation with the RUEA. He stressed the importance of long-term cooperation with the ILO and Armenian constituents and ILO’s meaningful support aimed at promotion of social partnership in Armenia.

Armenia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Issues planned to launch a new employment policy that would help to switch from passive programmes to more active projects boosting employment, Minister Artem Asatryan told the congress. In this respect he indicated the importance of existing social partnership among the ministry, the Republican Union of Employers and the Confederation of Trade Unions.

The tripartite agreement on social partnership was signed in 2009 by Armenia’s prime minister, president of the Republican Union of Employers and chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions and extended in 2012.

Eduard Tumasyan, chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia, expressed confidence that the agreement signed between the RUEA and the Confederation of Trade Unions would deepen their cooperation in the interest of development and prosperity of economy.

Dimitrina Dimitrova, director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said the ILO would continue its work with the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia in preparing specialized services for its members and developing the stance helping to promote a business point of view in the socio-economic policy in the framework of the national tripartite agreement.

“I am confident that with the Republican Union of Employers’ existing vision and dynamism our future cooperation will help create new aspects of interrelations between competitiveness of enterprises and social progress in Armenia,” said the director of the ILO Office, stressing the importance of balanced policies. “These notions as we, in the ILO, strongly believe are not only compatible, but they also ensure mutual benefit.”

The congress elected the RUEA governing bodies. Gagik Makaryan was re-elected as the union’s chairman.

The Republican Union of Employers of Armenia was established on November 15, 2007. Initially, there were only 150 members in the union. At present, the union’s membership exceeds 12,850. It includes not only certain companies, but also specialized associations and unions.