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The amendments to the Law on State Benefits should help raise the birth rate in Armenia, MP of the opposition faction ‘Heritage’ Tevan Poghosyan said during debates of the bill at the extraordinary sitting of the Armenian parliament today.

In his words, the law is aimed at resolving technical issues, and it is necessary to understand which spheres are affected by it.
“The main purpose of passing these amendments is to understand what steps should be taken to deal with the demographic crisis and increase the birth rate,” the MP said.

He urged those present not to forget that there are working mothers who want to ensure welfare and also have children.

Tevan Poghosyan said that payment of benefits to non-working mothers is a positive measure on the one hand, while on the other hand it is necessary to do so that working mothers will face no problems.

T. Poghosyan called on Armenian MPs to study international practice before discussing the document in the second reading. He also proposed conducing monitoring after the law’s adoption to determine what impact the amendments have on the birth rate and to revise the approaches if necessary.

On September 25, 2014 the Armenian government approved a package of bills with additions and amendments to the Law on Temporary Disability Allowances and the Law on State Benefits. The bills, especially a provision on reduction in maternity benefits, drew a wide public response.