The Ministry of Labor and Welfare has submitted a new employment support program for public consultation. The program aims to expand employment opportunities for able-bodied members of families recognized as vulnerable under the family vulnerability assessment system, unemployed persons discharged from compulsory military service, as well as persons displaced from Karabakh, by providing educational electronic vouchers. The program intended to enhance their competitiveness, facilitate employment and promote sustainable employment.

Under the draft program, beneficiaries will receive a voucher worth up to 250,000 AMD, which may be used only once and within six months of its issuance. The voucher may be redeemed exclusively through organizations implementing the “Guaranteed Modular Non-Formal Education Programs” published on the official website of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia.

The program will also provide support to an employer (except public service bodies and organizations in which the state or a community holds a 50% or greater share in the charter capital) that concludes an employment contract with a person who has completed training using the voucher and received a certificate of completion. The contract must provide for work in the profession specified in the certificate, under a normal working-time regime (full-time), for a period of at least three months.

Under the program, employers will receive quarterly reimbursement of income tax calculated on and paid from the salary of the employed beneficiary:

1)     For the first three months of employment: 50%, but not more than 25,000 AMD per month,

2)    For months 4–6 of employment: 100%, but not more than 50,000 AMD per month.

The program will also provide beneficiaries with a one-time payment:

1)     100,000 AMD if the employment relationship between the beneficiary and the employer continues for three months;

2)    An additional 200,000 AMD if the employment relationship continues for 12 months.

The program is scheduled to launch on January 1, 2027.

Comments and suggestions on the draft submitted for public consultation may be submitted through e-draft.am, the unified website for the publication of draft legal acts, at the following link: e-draft.am — Draft No. 10599