Some 100 fired employees of Nairit Plant have gathered in front of the Presidential Palace to claim their unpaid wages.
According to ArmInfo's correspondent, on Feb 6 Nairit will fire as many as 1,700 people. As a result, the staff will shrink to 400 workers.
On Jan 16 17 employees of the plant sent an open letter to the Armenian President on behalf of their colleagues. They said that they understand that the company is forced to fire some of its employees but just want it to first pay their unpaid wages for the last 18 months. "The Prime Minister and the Energy and Natural Resources Minister have said that the wages will not be paid. So, we have decided to appeal to you," the letter says.
Nairit has been idle since Apr 2010. In 2006 its shares were given to InterStateBank as security for a $70mln loan. 89.999% of the shares are owned by Rhainoville Property Limited. The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry owners 4.496%, Gazprom Armenia 3.596%, Yerevan TPP 1.907%.