PM suggests halting penalties under new pension lawApril 18, 2014 - 14:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The new Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan suggested suspending the exaction of fines under a law on mandatory cumulative pensions, governmental press service reported. The proposal came after a meeting where the official instructed to ready a draft law suspending exaction of fines before the parliament’s adoption of a package of laws envisaged by the April 2 constitutional ruling. The government will suggest discussion of the bill during a 4-day parliamentary session to start April, 28, ARKA reported. Armenia's Constitutional Court declared controversial clauses to the law on cumulative pensions invalid on April 2. The court ruled that provisions imposing mandatory cumulative pension system are at conflict with the country's basic law. The court decision noted that the law fails to indicate requirements for those with minimum salaries of AMD 45000, with every citizen entitled to a salary no lower than a minimum one. According to the Constitutional Court, the government and parliament must protect the citizens’ right to ownership. The disputed provisions, which went into effect on January 1, obligated all employed citizens under 40 to allocate 5% of their monthly salaries to cumulative accounts, with the government to add another 5%. Armenia’s leading opposition parties challenged the legality of the law at the Constitutional Court. On February 4, Armenian parliament voted down suggestion of a year-long delay for introduction of a mandatory cumulative pension law, with 46 votes in favor and 56 against. he suggestion was initiated by the Prosperous Armenia, Armenian National Congress, Heritage and ARFD parliamentary groups. On January 24, the Constitutional Court suspended the provisions of the law envisaging sanctions for not complying with it at least until March 28 when it is due to proceed with consideration of the matter. Government agencies, however, have continued to force employers to make deductions from the salaries in favor of the funds, which activists and non-government political forces insisted was contempt of the Court’s decision. "The provisions of the mandatory cumulative pension law declared unconstitutional will remain in effect until September 30," a member of the Constitutional Court said, commenting on the top court’s April 2 ruling. “The Constitutional Court didn’t declare the whole mandatory accumulation system is unconstitutional. What we have said is that the model submitted contains anti-constitutional provisions which must be revised by competent authorities – the government and the National Assembly,” Felix Tokhyan said in an interview with the local TV channel Shant. “The law on mandatory cumulative pensions will stay in effect until September 30,” then Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the April 3 government session. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |