Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, in a statement marking May 1, globally celebrated as International Workers' Day (or May Day), boasted that since he came to power in Armenia in 2018, some 280,000 jobs have been created and that the country’s economy has grown by 54%.

While he thanked those people who work and pay taxes, nowhere in his statement did he speak about the right of workers to organize, form unions, actively fight for better work conditions and higher wages, or for increased representation in the country’s halls of power.

Pashinyan noted the elimination of ‘extreme poverty’ in Armenia and how his administration has spent millions on various assistance programs.

He called on workers to hone their skills through education and training to stay competitive in the country’s labor market.

Nowhere did he refer to the origins of May Day, i.e., the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labor movement globally.

Neither did he comment on the plight of the labor movement in Armenia that is characterized by a weak, largely symbolic trade union structure operating under a legal framework that guarantees rights to organize and strike but often fails to implement them in practice. While the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia exists, many workers, particularly in the expanding gig economy and private sectors, face low unionization and limited protection.

The Constitution of Armenia and the Labor Code guarantee the right to form unions and engage in collective action. However, experts have noted that these rights are not effectively enforced, with high minimum membership requirements for forming unions.

Recent reports from the Council of Europe have underscored the necessity of bolstering worker representation and extending protections to all categories of labor in Armenia. These findings reveal that the current legal framework falls short in safeguarding workers, particularly those in emerging sectors.

The Council of Europe has determined that Armenia does not comply with several provisions of the European Social Charter concerning labor rights, as detailed in its annual report published in January 2026. Key areas of concern include the persistent gender pay gap, restricted access to trade unions for self-employed individuals and law enforcement officers, and the prohibition of strikes for employees in a broad range of public services.

Pashinyan writes that his administration “praises work and the working person.” A fine sentiment indeed, which however, fails to adequately address the issues still facing “workers” and the labor movement in Armenia.

See: Armenian HRD Marks May 1: Serious Challenges to Protect Labor Rights Remain, May Days to Come: Fighting for Workers’ Power in Armenia, Defending Armenia’s Workers – Is Class Struggle on the Agenda?

Photo: “Glory to Labor” statue (better known as the Statue of the Worker), sculpted by Ara Harutyunyan once stood in Yerevan’s  Shengavit district. Removed in 1997 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The statue’s head and fist are now housed in the National Gallery in Yerevan. (Yerevan’s “Worker” Statute Makes Public Appearance 25 Years After Removal)