The
Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia summarizes the clarifications
received from inspection bodies regarding the issues raised by employees of the
Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC)
Let
us remind, that on February 6, 2025, by the instruction of the Human Rights
Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan, representatives of the Human Rights Defender's
Office visited Syunik region to get acquainted on-site with the rights-related
issues raised by the employees of the ZCMC, the state of ensuring the rights of
individuals, as well as the concerns raised regarding working conditions.
Among
other things, the Human Rights Defender and the staff were informed that people
work in factories in conditions that are harmful to their health. For example,
the company's small and medium crushing site, enrichment factory, and ore
crushing and transportation plant lack proper cooling, ventilation, and heating
systems; vibration, dust, humidity, and noise are above the norm; people work
eight hours a day in noisy conditions; due to the lack of showers installed in
the company's bathroom, employees either wait a long time for their turn after
each work shift, or several people use one shower at the same time.
Furthermore,
according to the information provided, some employees, despite holding the same
position and performing the same tasks, receive different salaries, which
causes artificial tension among workers.
The
issues raised were recorded and addressed to the relevant inspection bodies by
the Defender's instruction.
Thus,
based on the Defender's letter, administrative proceedings were initiated in
the RA Health and Labor Inspection Body to determine compliance with the
requirements established by the RA legislation and a number of orders at the
"Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine" CJSC. As a result of the
examination protocol drawn up within the framework of the administrative
proceedings and the examination of the documents obtained during the
administrative proceedings, it became clear that a number of requirements
established by relevant legal acts were violated. In particular, related to
discrimination in the workplace, ensuring employee safety, conditions that meet
health and hygiene requirements, working hours, etc.
According
to the clarification provided by the Health and Labor Inspection Body of the
Republic of Armenia, on March 17, 2025, an order was adopted to assign a task to
the company, instructing the company to take appropriate measures to eliminate
the violations within a 30-day period and to inform the inspection authority in
writing about the measures taken within a 5-day period.
According
to the information received from the inspection body, on March 19, 2025, an
administrative offense proceeding was initiated in relation to the violations
recorded during the administrative procedure, as a result, on April 15, 2025,
by decision, the responsible official of the company was held administratively
liable. The administrative fine imposed was paid into the state budget.
The
issues raised by the employees of the ZCMC are still under the direct attention
of the Human Rights Defender and further consistent work will be carried out on
their progress.
The
Defender emphasizes that there are numerous problems in the Republic of Armenia
in terms of mechanisms for raising problems related to labor rights. Therefore,
it is necessary to take urgent steps to ensure that everyone has the
opportunity to raise problems related to labor rights, as a result of which
they receive adequate solutions to the problems.
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