Armenia

Employment Contracts

The employment agreement should be written in Armenian with the employee’s salary, job description, annual leave, other leaves and benefits.

Fixed-term contracts must include the end date, and both parties must allow for 10 days of written notice to terminate the contract.

Indefinite contracts can be terminated by mutual agreement and must follow the notice period defined above. Employers can screen employees for details on their previous job, credit score and their criminal record. There is no law governing medical screening.

Public Holidays

• New Year’s Day
• New Year’s Eve
• Armenian Orthodox Christmas
• International Women’s Day
• Good Friday
• Genocide Remembrance Day
• Victory and Peace Day
• First Republic Day
• Constitution Day
• Independence Day

Compensation

Employees are entitled to a basic monthly minimum wage, which does not include bonuses, additional payments or incentives. The minimum hourly rate is calculated by dividing the monthly salary by the total number of hours worked.

Those working in a hazardous environment receive a premium on their typical salary. Bonuses are common.

Working Hours

The workweek is capped at 40 hours or eight hours a day. Overtime is capped at four hours per day, eight hours per week, or 120 hours a year.

Overtime is paid at a percentage of the basic wage and all overtime must be recorded. Overtime worked on a public holiday is double the standard rate or compensated with time off.

Vacation Leave

Employees receive 28 days of annual paid vacation. This can be increased if the employee works in a hazardous environment, works an irregular shift schedule or in another unusual arrangement.

Employees receive annual leave after six months of service and it is granted in the same year when the work was performed.

Pregnant employees and some collective bargaining agreements allow for the annual leave to be taken before the six-month period.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to receive full benefits while on sick leave if their absence is fewer than 120 successive days or 140 days within the past year. For work-related injuries or sicknesses, employees return to work when they are healthy. The sick leave is fully paid by social security.

Maternity / Paternity Leave

Female employees are allowed 140 days of paid leave from 70 days before the birth. The total rises to 155 days if there are complications and 180 days for multiple births. Maternity leave is paid at five times the legal minimum monthly wage.

The government pays a baby bonus for the first and second child, as well as a child benefit.

Employment Termination/Severance

The probation period is capped at three months. Five days of notice is required for one year of service, six days for five years of service, and seven days for 10 years. Employees who are made redundant are also entitled to a month of severance pay, while normal severance pay is capped at two weeks, regardless of the service.

Employers can terminate the employee on the basis of medical issues and if the employee has rejected a job transfer offer. The employer can also terminate the employee if their role no longer exists.

The employee must receive at least two months of notice if the company liquidates, or if they are being terminated for economic reasons. The notice period for a fixed-term contract is 10 days.

The employee must inform the state employment service and the employees’ representative, usually a union, three months before any collective dismissal. This dismissal is defined by a 10% or greater reduction in the workforce over two consecutive months.

Health Insurance Benefits

Armenia provides a universal healthcare system for its employees.