Pensions, minimum wage and maternity benefits will be raised in Armenia from January 1, 2023. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a government meeting on Thursday.

"We plan to raise pensions starting January 1, 2023. More details will be provided later. The minimum wage will also be raised from current 68,000 drams ($ 170) to 75,000 drams ($ 186)," he said.

Pashinyan noted that there is an important change in demographic programs: in 2020 the government decided to provide mothers in rural settlements with benefits for taking care of children up to 2 years old.

"We have agreed that it is necessary to increase the child care allowance for children up to 2 years old from 28,600 drams ($ 71) to 30,700 drams ($76) (in rural areas). We must give allowance to all mothers of children under 2 years old, regardless of their place of residence and work," he said.

Working mothers in villages will continue to receive double allowance, i.e. from January 1 they will receive 61,400 drams ($ 153) a month for a child.

Labor and Social Affairs Minister Narek Mkrtchyan reminded that working mothers receive an allowance of 34,000 drams ($ 84), while non-working mothers receive 30,700 drams ($ 76).

"According to current regulations, if a mother decides to leave her job, the allowance will stop. But beginning from 2023, we will continue to provide benefits," he specified, ARKA reports.