EcoLur
A group of employees at “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve have applied to the Human Rights Defender. They have stated that the acting director (Hrachya Hovakimyan) has violated their employment rights and demanded from them to submit resignation applications.
Under the employees, if the current director finds it inexpedient to work with somebody, he makes him/her submit a resignation application without taking into consideration the work experience, education and age.
The Ombudsman has accepted the claims made by the employees of “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve for consideration and has sent letters to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and Nature Protection Ministry to receive appropriate clarifications.
In reply to the Ombudsman’s letter, the Nature Protection Ministry has conducted internal examinations in regard with the Ombudsman’s complaint about the violation of Reserve employees’ employment rights. As a result it has been recorded that the employees themselves had committed disciplinary offences and simultaneously they have submitted a letter on regret addressed to the reserve administration.
While the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs informed that on the grounds of the Ombudsman’s letter, the State Employment Inspection has conducted examinations in “Khosrov Forest” State Reserve. The findings of the examination showed that on the employer’s initiative employment agreements had been terminated with a number of violations of RA Labor Code: around 18 employees haven’t got their final settlements in the amount of about 2 million AMD, while the employees’ labor books haven’t been completed and given back to them.
It has already been mentioned that the State Employment Inspection will submit the employer a mandatory recommendation for the elimination and further prevention of the violations, as well as administrative fines will be imposed.
All this information has been provided by Anna Safaryan, Adviser to RA Ombudsman.
March 28, 2013 at 15:30