The Human Rights Defender’s Annual Report of 2018 contains both practical and legislative problems with regard to pensions.
The complaints addressed to the Human Rights Defender revealed systemic issues in the field.
In the Annual Report it is particularly noted that:
- There is no possibility to transfer the pension case from Armenia to another state for the purpose of assigning a pension there, and then, in case of return, to receive a pension in the same amount and on the same conditions in Armenia.
- There are no pension agreements with many countries that would allow to calculate the employment period in those countries when retiring.
- There is no effective mechanism for calculating one’s employment period that equally reverses the burden of proof on the pension authority.
- During the assignment of pensions, the administration, attitude, and consultation capacities do not properly suffice, that directly affect the realization of the right to pensions.
Examining the recorded issues, the Human Rights Defender also presented proposals for their solution in the Annual report.
Specifically,
1.It is necessary to amend the RA Law "On state pensions", stating that in cases of pension transfer from Armenia to another state, and then, upon return, the right of the individual to their pension is restored in the same amount and on the same conditions.
2.It is necessary to expand the scope of countries that have relevant agreements with the Republic of Armenia:
3. It is necessary to conduct in each case a full, comprehensive and objective examination, as well as to strengthen oversight towards the employees of the social security territorial units.
Earlier, the Human Rights Defender published the issues recorded in the Annual Report related to the assignment of partial, privileged, and long service pensions.