Armenia to face strike of chemical workers

By AzerNews

The chemical workers of Armenia's third largest city Vanadzor have threatened to start an indefinite strike on July 16.

The workers of the Vanadzor Chemical Plant are demanding their unpaid salaries of the past 6-11 months. They have repeatedly called on head of the plant, as well as the city's governor to remove their problems but no steps have been taken yet by officials in this regard.

The plant lacks enough funds to meet its workers' demands.

On June 20, many protesting workers of the plant managed to get their unpaid salaries for December 2013 after holding several rallies. But nearly 30 workers are still waiting for their unpaid wages.

Vanadzor Plant is the second chemical plant in Armenia which faces financial difficulties. Hundreds of employees of Yerevan's Nairit Rubber Plant held protests in front of the governmental building on July 10, demanding payment of their salaries of the past 16 months and re-operation of the plant.

Some 2,300 employees of Nairit Plant became jobless after the plant suspended its activity few years ago due to its huge debts.

The government is still unable to find a way out of the crisis reigning at the largest chemical plants.

Local experts believe that Armenia's economic system is unable to develop large chemical plants. They noted that the authorities remain indifferent to large chemical plants and pay attention to this issue only when employees hold rallies.