It is useless to talk about human rights in country under current system: Armenian ombudsman

Thus, in order to get information on violation of the rights of taxi drivers, the Ombudsman’s office turned to the state inspectorate. A number of violations were found after checks in 5 out of 70 taxi service companies. For example, there were cases of taxi drivers working 18 hours without receiving overtime pay.

Besides, according to Harutyunyan, there is no one overseeing taxi drivers’ health in the industry, and one of the companies has been already working for a year with no license, he said.

As a result, not only people’s labour rights are violated, but also people’s security is not ensured.

Touching upon monopolistic companies in the country, the Ombudsman stated “Monopolistic economy is leading and will lead the country to a deadlock.”

Harutyunyan believes that “structural changes,” for instance, are a way to overcome the situation.

“A reformed system should promote the shaping of a dignified, free-thinking and self-sufficient citizen.”

Another study carried out by the Ombudsman’s office recorded serious problems in the field of ecology.

The major drawbacks, according to Harutyunyan, refer to mass felling, misuse of forests and national parks, and the existence of construction waste.

“All this shows that, under these current economic system’s conditions, to say that people’s socio-economic rights are protected is simply meaningless,” concluded the Ombudsman.

/Tert.am/