Armenian Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan today marked International Workers’ Day by saying that serious challenges to protect labor rights in Armenia remain.

In a statement, Grigoryan referred to a recent survey revealing that 16.7% of respondents did not have an employment contract.

“In other words, due to the lack of a stable practice of legalization of employment, employees continue to be deprived of the guarantees provided by labor legislation and access to protection mechanisms,” the statement reads.

She cited the finding that 7.2% of respondents said they do overtime work every day, but only 28.4% of those receive a bonus for that work.

Grigoryan said that steps must continue to raise the level of awareness of people about their labor rights and called on the government to provide and develop legal mechanisms for institutional advice and guidance to employees, making the best use of the potential of NGOs and trade unions.