COUNTRY

The employment agreement should be written in Armenian with the employee’s salary, job description, annual leave, other leaves and benefits. Fixed-term contracts must include the end date, and both parties must allow for 10 days of written notice to terminate the contract. Indefinite contracts can be terminated by mutual agreement and must follow the notice period. Employers can screen employees for details on their previous job, credit score and their criminal record. There is no law governing medical screening.

The workweek in Armenia is capped at 40 hours per week and eight hours a day. Overtime is capped at four hours per day, eight hours per week and 120 hours per year. Overtime is paid at a percentage of the basic wage, and all overtime must be recorded. Overtime worked on a public holiday must be paid at double the standard rate or compensated with time off.

Employees in Armenia are entitled to receive full benefits while on sick leave if their absence is fewer than 120 successive days or 140 days within the past year. For work-related injuries or sicknesses, employees return to work when they are healthy. The sick leave is fully paid by social security.

Female employees are allowed 140 days of paid maternity leave in Armenia, starting 70 days before the birth due date. The total rises to 155 days if there are complications and 180 days for multiple births. Maternity leave is paid at five times the legal minimum monthly wage. Armenia pays a baby bonus for the first and second child, as well as a child benefit.

Employees are entitled to a basic monthly minimum wage in Armenia, which does not include bonuses, additional payments or incentives. The minimum hourly rate is calculated by dividing the monthly salary by the total number of hours worked. Those working in a hazardous environment receive a premium on their typical salary. Bonuses are common.

Employees receive 28 days of annual paid vacation in Armenia. This can be increased if the employee works in a hazardous environment, works an irregular shift schedule or works in another unusual arrangement. Employees receive annual leave after six months of service in the same year when the work was performed.

In Armenia, the public holidays are:

• New Year’s Day

• New Year’s Eve

• Armenian Orthodox Christmas

• International Women’s Day

• Good Friday

• Genocide Remembrance Day

• Victory and Peace Day

• First Republic Day

• Constitution Day

• Independence Day

Armenia provides basic and emergency healthcare to all residents.

In Armenia, termination of employment requires five days of notice for one year of service, six days for five years of service, and seven days for 10 years. Employees who are made redundant are entitled to a month of severance pay, while normal severance pay is capped at two weeks, regardless of years of service. Employers can terminate the employee on the basis of medical issues and if the employee has rejected a job transfer offer. The employer can also terminate the employee if their role no longer exists. The employee must receive at least two months of notice if the company liquidates, or if they are being terminated for economic reasons. The notice period for a fixed-term contract is 10 days. The employee must inform the state employment service and the employees’ representative, usually a union, three months before any collective dismissal. This dismissal is defined by a 10% or greater reduction in the workforce over two consecutive months.