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The Human Rights Defender's Office (HRD) summarized the results of its representatives' February 6 visit to the Kajaran community, where workers of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) were on strike. Below is the full statement issued by the office on Monday.

"During the meetings, employees of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine raised various issues related to the revision of salaries, medical insurance, and working conditions, particularly the permissible levels of noise, dust and vibration in workshops, as well as hygiene standards.

The representatives of the Human Rights Defender’s Office also met with residents of buildings adjacent to the ZCMC.

The residents noted that a filtration station is currently being built at the ZCMC, where waste from the company's workshops will be processed.

According to the residents, the station is being built too close to residential building and may have a negative impact on the environment and human health.

They stated that air pollution has significantly increased in Kajaran and a stench has spread in the area adjacent to the station and in the residential building. They added that a signature collection has been initiated regarding the issue.

Issues related to the mandate of the Human Rights Defender have been addressed to the relevant inspection bodies upon the Defender's instruction.

It was registered during the visit that the employees of the combine are not properly informed about the legal requirements for organizing and conducting strikes.

Moreover, complaints addressed to the Human Rights Defender, calls via the hotline and monitoring of social media and mass media publications indicate that this issue is systemic and concerns not only the employees of the combine but also to employees of other organizations.

In this context, the Defender emphasizes that the state should carry out continuous awareness-raising activities on the legal procedures for resolving collective labor disputes and organizing strikes.

It should also be noted that the Human Rights Defender has consistently addressed the issues related to the exercise of the right to strike in annual reports over the years. For instance, in the 2023 annual report, the Defender stated that although the right to strike is enshrined in the law, the procedures for its implementation are quite complex, making it practically impossible to organize a strike in compliance with the legal requirements.

In the context of legal regulations on strikes, although some positive changes were made in 2023 to reduce the requirements for organizing a strike, they are still insufficient to ensure the proper exercise of the right to strike in accordance with international standards.

The Defender specifically highlights that the existing legal regulations in the state should not create practical obstacles for employees to raise relevant issues through strikes. The competent authorities should conduct a detailed study of issues related to working conditions and remain consistent in their efforts to find systemic solutions in the shortest possible time."