The National Assembly is debating a government bill to ratify the 2019 ILO Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment.
Acting Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ruben Sargsyan, presenting the draft, noted that the convention was adopted in 2019 and entered into force in 2021, with 50 countries having ratified it so far.
He explained that the document applies broadly to workers and other beneficiaries, whether or not they have a formal contract. It also covers trainees, interns, apprentices, former employees, volunteers, job seekers, and applicants. It extends to all persons acting with the employer’s authority.
The convention clearly defines the concepts of “violence” and “harassment” in the workplace and outlines the obligations member states must implement to prevent and eliminate such practices.
It applies across both the public and private sectors, as well as in formal and informal economies. It covers incidents that occur during work, in connection with work, or as a result of employment relations.
Ratification will confirm Armenia’s commitment to ensuring a safe and healthy work environment, protect vulnerable groups at higher risk, and improve the country’s labor policies. It will also reinforce Armenia’s role as a human rights–respecting state, committed to fair and secure workplaces, while strengthening ties with the international community.
Sargsyan added that the bill has already been reviewed by the parliament’s standing committee and received a positive conclusion.
