Armenia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has proposed providing incentives to employers who hire people with disabilities and citizens who are over 63 years old
Armenia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has proposed providing incentives to employers who hire people with disabilities and citizens who are over 63 years old
18.06.2026
The Armenian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has drawn up a new programme to help improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities and citizens who are over 63 years of age. This initiative was announced during a Government meeting by the Labour Minister, Arsen Torosyan.
“The project aims to extend work opportunities for people with Group 1 and Group II disabilities, those with profound or severe functional impairments, and citizens who are over 63 years of age”, said Torosyan.
He explained that the programme aims to encourage their active involvement in social and economic life, enables them to earn some extra income, and increases their social interaction.
The document recognises that many older people and those with disabilities have professional experience and potential, and that their employment not only contributes to their social and economic wellbeing, but also to retaining skilled workers in the labour market, strengthening inter-generational cooperation, and creating an inclusive society.
Who will be eligible for support
Under the proposal, State support will be provided to employers who enter into an employment contract with a disabled person, or a citizen who is over 63 years old for a period of at least three to six months.
Exceptions will be made for civil service agencies, as well as organisations in which the State or local authority holds a stake of 50% or more.
Employment can either be on a full- or part-time basis.
What payments are provided
Employers are offered compensation for a proportion of the income tax paid on an employee’s salary on a quarterly basis:
· For the first three months of employment – 50% of the income tax amount, but no more than 25,000 drams per month;
· For the fourth to the sixth month of employment – 100% of the income tax amount, up to a maximum of 50,000 drams per month.
If the employment arrangement continues for a further year after the end of the compensation period, the employer will receive a one-off subsidy of 100,000 drams.
Programme funding
The Government intends the project to cover around 200 people by next year. Implementation costs are estimated to be approximately 45 million drams.
The amount of support per participant for the first six months will be up to 225,000 drams. Employers will be eligible to receive a further 100,000 drams after the employment contract has been in place for one year.
The Labour Ministry says that the programme’s implementation will not require additional expenditure from the State budget: funding is expected to be secured through optimisation and reallocation of resources within the department’s budgetary limits for 2027-2029.
Expected impact
If the proposal is adopted, the Government expects to increase the competitiveness of disabled people and citizens who are more than 63 years old in the labour market, as well as ensuring more stable employment for them.
This initiative is consistent with the provisions of Armenia’s Transformation Strategy up to 2050, and the Government’s programme for 2021-2026, which envisage improving the effectiveness of State work programmes, and the introduction of new employment support mechanisms.
Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Tigran Khachatryan, has also proposed offering incentives for employers to take on members of the aforementioned social group ($1=368.06 drams).
