In Armenia, workers report consequences of their plant's closure

In the city of Alaverdi, people have already felt the consequences of the copper plant's suspension. As a result, the purchasing power in the city decreased and people began to accumulate debts on their loans. If the plant is closed, at least 630 people will lose their jobs, workers of the plant report.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 13, workers of the copper plant blocked the Yerevan-Tbilisi railway. The protesters voiced their ultimatum to the authorities and gave them time to organize a three-party meeting at the level of the government chair or one of his deputies, the owner of the copper plant, and the owner of the bank, which gave money to the plant.

The workers of the copper plant unblocked the railway when they got guarantees for the three-party meeting from the Governor of the Lori Region and the chief of the regional police, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Armen Kirakosyan, one of the organizers of the protest action.

According to him, the owner of the copper plant pays 2/3 of the wages for the workers' forced leave, and the workers have no complaints about the businessman. However, if the plant is closed, 630 workers of the plant will be made redundant.

Garegin Antashyan, the head of the metallurgical production workshop, says that the city was formed around the copper plant and there are no families in Alaverdi not related to the plant.

According to Garegin Antashyan, despite the fact that the plant has not yet closed, the purchasing power in the city has already fallen and the consumption of gas and electricity has decreased.

"Many people are not able to pay out their loans, and they receive notifications about upcoming litigations. The only way out for them is migration, since there are no alternative jobs in the city," said the plant employee.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 15, 2019 at 08:42 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.