The Armenian government has announced a delay in the mandatory electronic signing of employment contracts, pushing the deadline to January 1, 2027. This decision comes after the initial January 1, 2026, implementation faced considerable challenges, leading to what officials describe as a period of ‘chaos’.
ID Card Issues and Long Queues
According to the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, approximately 200,000 citizens currently lack identification cards, which are crucial for the electronic contract system. The process of acquiring these cards has been plagued by serious problems, including exceptionally long queues at registration centers.
Arsen Torosyan, the Minister, further highlighted a compatibility issue: “As we are introducing a new system for identification cards and new passports, which should be launched later this year, a new problem arises with the balance between the currently issued ID cards and those to be issued in the future.” This disparity adds another layer of complexity to the already troubled implementation.
Unforeseen Problems and Proposed Amendments
Beyond the ID card dilemma, the government encountered other unforeseen issues following the initial adoption of the law. To address these, additional amendments have been proposed. One significant change pertains to foreign citizens, whose employment contracts will now be concluded in paper format. However, upon obtaining legal residency documents in Armenia, they will be required to register their contracts in the digital system within three months.
Another amendment addresses individuals residing outside Armenia who cannot obtain an electronic digital signature. For such cases, employment contracts will also be signed in paper format, including through postal or electronic communication. This change is crucial as previous regulations created difficulties related to physical presence and residency certificates, which often require notarization that cannot be done electronically.
Government Acknowledges Setbacks
The newspaper “Past” (Fact) reported on Thursday, February 12, 2026, that the government acknowledged that the ‘reforms’ had, once again, ‘failed’ or ‘tripped up’, prompting the swift initiation of amendments to the relevant law and the extension of the deadline.
The current situation underscores the challenges faced when implementing large-scale digital reforms without adequately addressing underlying infrastructural and logistical issues. The government’s decision to postpone the mandate aims to provide sufficient time to resolve these problems and ensure a smoother transition to the electronic employment contract system.
Impact on the Workforce and Future Outlook
The delay is expected to alleviate immediate pressure on citizens and employers who were struggling to comply with the initial deadline. However, it also highlights the need for more thorough planning and preparation for future digital initiatives. The government’s focus will now be on streamlining the ID card acquisition process and ensuring the compatibility of new identification systems to avoid similar disruptions in 2027.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, in collaboration with other relevant bodies, is tasked with developing robust solutions to facilitate the seamless implementation of electronic employment contracts. The goal is to move towards a more efficient and transparent employment system, but without creating unnecessary burdens for the population.
The upcoming year will be critical for the Armenian government to address these challenges and build a more resilient digital infrastructure capable of supporting such reforms effectively.
