More than 700 employees of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) declared a strike on the morning of January 31, demanding a salary increase, Hetq reports.

ZCMC is Armenia’s largest taxpayer in 2024.

One of the striking employees, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that their demand aims to ensure social justice.

"Although it is widely claimed that wages in Kajaran are high, the high cost of living here is overlooked. There is no local healthcare system, forcing people to travel to Kapan or Yerevan for medical services," he noted.

According to him, the strikers have presented two key demands: a 50% salary increase (by 130,000–150,000 AMD) and the establishment of dialogue between employees and management.

"Salaries are particularly low for workers, while middle and senior management earn significantly higher wages. Moreover, there is virtually no communication between workers and executives, leading to multiple issues—lack of feedback, obstacles in work organization, quality concerns, and more," the employee explained.

He added that these issues had been raised multiple times before the strike, but when they were formally presented to ZCMC’s management, no response or solution was provided.

Prior to the strike, employees met with company executives, but according to the source, the meeting was not constructive, and their demands were not met. As a result, they decided to proceed with the strike. Kajaran’s mayor, Manvel Paramazyan, also met with the strikers, and according to the employees, the discussion was productive.

According to ZCMC employees, as a result of the strike, the plant did not operate on January 31. They insist they will not return to work until their demands are met.

The ZCMC administration and its labor union issued a joint statement, asserting that the actions in question are not considered a strike and are not supported, deeming them illegal.

"Due to employees' illegal actions, the company's production cycle has been disrupted, causing significant financial damage to the company and the remaining employees.

If these illegal actions persist, the company will be forced to place a significant number of employees on involuntary leave.

Given the above and in the interest of ZCMC and the vast majority of its employees, the company will exercise its right to hold violators disciplinarily accountable in accordance with Chapter 21 of Armenia’s Labor Code," the statement reads.