Trade Unions in Armenia Today and Tomorrow

Trade unions in Armenia today are still recovering from the decline in membership and influence they experienced in the 1990s.

The country's economic crisis led to a significant drop in union membership, with some estimates suggesting that the number of union members fell by as much as 70% during this period.

Despite this, Armenia's trade union movement has shown signs of resilience, with some unions reporting a slight increase in membership in recent years.

The country's largest trade union, the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia, has been actively working to revitalize the union movement and promote workers' rights.

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The history of trade unions in Armenia is a fascinating story that began in the early 20th century. The first trade unions were formed between 1905-1907 in major cities like Yerevan, Alexandropol, Kars, and Alaverdi.

One of the earliest trade unions was formed in 1905 in Yerevan for home-workers. This marked the beginning of organized trade unions in Armenia.

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In 1921, the concept of trade unions started to spread on a mass scale, and by the end of the year, 16,000 industrial and office workers were affiliated with trade unions.

The Council of Trade Unions of Armenia was formed on February 6, 1921, in Yerevan, with G.Azatyan as the first secretary and G.Anesoglyan as secretary.

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The early years of trade unions in Armenia were marked by rapid growth and organization.

In 1905, the first trade union was formed in Yerevan, specifically for home-workers.

Between 1905 and 1907, more trade unions were formed in various cities, including Alexandropol, Kars, and Alaverdi.

The concept of organized trade unions began to spread on a mass scale in 1921.

In the summer of 1921, provincial trade union bureaus were formed in several cities, including Alexandropol, Bayazet, Dilizhan, Karaklis, and Yerevan.

By 1921, 16 000 industrial and office workers were affiliated with trade unions.

The Council of trade unions of Armenia was formed on 6 February 1921, with G.Azatyan as the first secretary and G.Anesoglyan as secretary.

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The history of trade unions is a long and fascinating one. In the early 19th century, the first trade unions emerged in Britain, with the formation of the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union in 1834.

One of the key milestones in the history of trade unions was the formation of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 1868, which brought together representatives from various trade unions to coordinate their efforts.

The TUC played a crucial role in the formation of the Labour Party in 1900, which would go on to become a major force in British politics.

The Labour Party's first leader, Keir Hardie, was a key figure in the development of the trade union movement.

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In Armenia, trade unions are regulated by the Law on Trade Unions and the Labor Code. The Law on Trade Unions deals with regulatory issues concerning the formation of trade unions, their activities, and relations with public and private bodies.

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The Law on Trade Unions also regulates the protection of members' rights. This is a crucial aspect of trade union activity in Armenia.

Trade unions in state-run enterprises still benefit from check-off dues, a practice where employers deduct union dues from employees' salaries. This helps to maintain union membership and engagement in these sectors.

However, organization and strike action in the private sector is more subdued due to a lack of protection against reprisals. This is a significant challenge for trade unions operating in the private sector.

Trade unions in Armenia have been gaining momentum since the 2018 Velvet Revolution. Several new labor unions have formed, and government officials and unions have stated that labor unions should be strengthened.

In June 2021, an event took place in Yerevan launching several European Union supported projects on enhancing labor rights protection in Armenia. These projects aim to enhance the capacity of public administration and civil society organizations to strengthen and expand protection of labor rights.

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Government agencies have been creating initiatives in social and labor rights, and the government has emphasized its political will to conduct labor reforms. A law was adopted in July 2021 to reinstate the authority of the labor inspectorate.

There is current opportunity to advance labor rights in Armenia, as government agencies and unions are working together to strengthen labor unions.

Armenia is a full member of the General Confederation of Trade Unions, which demonstrates its commitment to international cooperation in the trade union sphere.

The country is also a member of the International Trade Union Confederation, a global organization that brings together trade unions from around the world.

Chairman Eduard Tumasyan is a member of the Executive Committee of the Pan-European Regional Council, highlighting Armenia's engagement with regional trade union organizations.

Armenia has ratified 23 conventions of the International Labour Organization, which sets international standards for labor rights and working conditions.

Armenia has committed itself to adhering to international standards such as Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which includes the right to form trade unions and guarantees their basic rights.

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In Armenia, workers have the right to form and join independent trade unions of their choice, except for those serving in the armed forces and law enforcement agencies. However, most workers are unable to exercise this right due to the flexibilisation of the Labour Code and the government's tolerance of high levels of informal employment relationships.

The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 312 affiliated national organisations from 155 countries, and has been advocating for workers' rights in Armenia. The Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia (CTUA) has set up a project to provide legal advice and other information to Armenians who plan to work abroad and to organise workers intending to migrate.

In practice, workers in Armenia face significant challenges in exercising their right to unionise and collectively bargain. Civil servants are barred from collective bargaining and participating in social dialogue, and the right to strike is limited. However, collective bargaining and tripartite agreements at the national level have been virtually non-existent until 2009.

The law in Armenia prohibits child labour, but children are allowed to work from the age of 14 with permission of a parent or a guardian. Child labour occurs in Armenia, particularly in informal activities in agriculture or as street vendors.

Women and men in Armenia do not enjoy equal rights in practice, and a significant wage gap between women and men exists. The law regulates equality between women and men in remuneration and employment, but discrimination is pronounced.

Labor Rights Protection is a crucial aspect of trade unions in Armenia. The ITUC has found that Armenia has ratified all eight ILO Core Labour Standards Conventions, but in practice, most workers are unable to exercise their right to unionize and collectively bargain due to flexibilization of the Labour Code and high levels of informal employment relationships.

The right to strike is provided, except for civil servants, but it is limited in reality. Collective bargaining and tripartite agreements at the national level have been virtually non-existent until 2009, when a first agreement was finally signed between the social partners.

Armenia has made progress in prosecuting traffickers and providing assistance to trafficking victims, but the problem persists, with women and girls being trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and men for forced labor, particularly in the construction industry.

The Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia (CTUA) has set up a project to provide legal advice and other information to Armenians who plan to work abroad and to organize workers intending to migrate, with a view to reinforcing protection of Armenian migrant workers abroad.

The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 312 affiliated national organizations from 155 countries, and 191 million workers in 169 countries and territories, with 340 national affiliates.

The Advanced Public Research Group NGO (APR Group) launched a project in 2018 to promote trade union movement in Armenia as a mechanism of collective labor rights protection, with a research on existing issues and challenges in the field of collective labor rights protection.

The research identified gaps in legislation and enforcement practice, as well as solutions to the establishment of an effective Trade Union system, and established cooperation with various stakeholders, including the Confederation of Trade Unions and the Republican union of employers of Armenia.

A table of key findings and recommendations from the research would be helpful here:

The research also highlighted the importance of trade unions in promoting collective labor rights protection, and the need for a stronger and more effective trade union movement in Armenia.