YEREVAN, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian delegation took part in the 96th conference of the International Labour Organization held in Zhnev from May 30 to June 15. Artsvik Minasian, an MP in the National Assembly and the former RA Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, mentioned at the June 27 press conference that social issues promoting state, employer, and trade union cooperation were discussed during the conference. According to him, though Armenia has ratified 30 conventions of the International Labour Organization, there are problems in terms of their application and contribution. A. Minasian mentioned, at the same time, that measures will be taken in order to bring the conventions of the International Labour Organization ratified by Armenia to life. He also declared that according to the agreement made with the International Labour Organization, the four-month program "Honourable Work", which mainly aims at strengthening the abilities and capacities of social associates, will be implemented. In the opinion of Arsen Ghazarian, the Chairman of the Union of Armenian Manufacturers and Employers, the International Labour Organization dictates such rules in the labour sphere, which are characteristic of civilized countries. According to him, they, particularly, contribute to the formation of balanced relations between trade unions and employers. A. Ghazarian also declared that the Union of Armenian Manufacturers and Employers signed a cooperation agreement with the corresponding fund of the government of Holland during the conference. It was also mentioned that the representatives of the fund will visit Armenia in September in order to work out a three-year program of cooperation. Boris Kharatian, the Deputy Chairman of the confederation of the Armenian trade unions, mentioned that the social cooperation encouraged by the International Labour Organization is a new approach in Armenian labour relations. According to him, the legal field, in particular, has already been formed, and the new Labour Code, as well as the Law on Employers have been adopted in the country in order to contribute to the development of this social cooperation.

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