Over the past three years, about 1,200 people have applied to the “Hrayr Marukhyan Foundation” Social-Democracy Research-Analytical Center to restore their violated labor rights. It is noteworthy that 70% of the applicants are women. WomenNet.am spoke with Kristine Avagyan, a lawyer at the foundation’s labor protection office, about the foundation’s activities, labor rights, and discrimination against women in the labor market.
– Why did the foundation decide to protect labor rights? What was its public demand?
The first, the main public demand was that in case of violation of labor rights, the costs of both legal advice and judicial representation are quite high – about half a million drams. At least that much will be required from the citizen to restore his violated labor right in court. And this, as we understand, is a huge expense for many of our citizens. The second reason was that, in fact, after 2013, there was no structure in Armenia that would exercise state control over the violation of citizens’ labor rights, so the court became the only way to resolve labor disputes.
-What does the foundation offer to the citizens whose labor rights have been violated?
– The Foundation offers both legal advice and legal representation. In other words, we undertake the full restoration of the violated right of the citizen who applies to us. At the moment we have more than 100 cases pending in the courts. And, of course, all this is done exclusively on a free basis. Therefore, if there are citizens who think that their labor rights have been violated, but do not know who to turn to and where to start, they can turn to us.
-What questions do people most often ask the foundation? Which rights are violated by employers?
– This is a very important question, because it reveals serious problems. The main issue we are facing is the illegal dismissal. Unfortunately, this is usually the case with public sector employees. That is, the citizens are illegally fired from state structures. 90% of the applications received from the former employees of these structures refer to illegal dismissals.
According to your observations, do the cases of violation of labor rights have a gender context? Is there discrimination against women by employers?
– My experience shows that women are really discriminated against by employers. If I try to present it in percentage, I can say that 70% of the cases of violation of labor rights concern women. We are talking not only about the violation of maternity benefits, the right to physical leave, which are specific only to women, but also, for example, about salaries and other payments.
– And what is the reason for such discriminatory attitude by employers?
– In my opinion, the main problem is that women are considered more vulnerable in the labor market. Employers know very well that it is more difficult for women to find a job and provide employment in Armenia than for men, so employers believe that women will find it easier to adapt to poor working conditions, lower wages, and make more concessions in order not to lose their jobs. Women are also less inclined to defend their violated rights in court. Thus, employers view women as the most vulnerable.
This Article was prepared in the frames of the “Strengthening Women’s Participation in the Workforce” project implemented by OxYGen Foundation in cooperation with Solidarity Center in Armenia.
