Friday, 6 April 2018
PM Holds Discussion on Reforms and Programs Underway in Social Protection System
Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan held a consultation to discuss the reforms and programs implemented in the field of social protection.
In particular, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan reported on the reform underway in the sphere of disability management, noting that transition is being made to the electronic system. According to the Minister, information on beneficiaries will be received from electronic healthcare databases. In addition, the medical and social expertise commissions will be reorganized completely. The Minister added that the whole package of reforms is expected to be introduced by this November.
Prioritizing the steps taken in this direction, the Prime Minister underlined that they should first of all enhance the level of assistance targeting. At the same time, Karen Karapetyan instructed to reconsider the deadlines for system introduction.
With reference to children’s rights protection, it was reported that the proposed reform is meant to safeguard children’s right live in family, develop alternative child care services in order to prevent children from being committed to round-the-clock care centers. In addition, the alternative care development program for 2018 envisages other forms of child care, including adoption, guardianship, foster care, and small group homes.
It was also informed that new strategic approaches are being applied in the sphere of employment. The implementation of targeted pilot programs on employment as a result of close cooperation with a number of international organizations will also contribute to the improvement of employment indicators, organization of training courses for State Employment Agency (SEA) experts. In this connection, it was reported that 68.5% of citizens registered with the State Employment Agency were provided with jobs during 2014-2017.
The Prime Minister deemed it necessary to promote employment of SEA-registered persons, stressing that incentives need to be developed for employers to engage such individuals. Reference was also made to the reform of labor legislation, as well as the digitization of a number of services.
