A G R E E M E N T

BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND LABOUR OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA ON CO-OPERATION IN THE FIELDS OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL PROTECTION

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, hereinafter referred to as ,,the Parties’’,

Having regard to the successful bilateral cooperation between the Parties in the fields of labour and social protection,

Wishing to maintain and extend the existing contacts between the Parties,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Parties, acting within their competences have agreed to develop the cooperation in the fields of labour and social protection pursuant to the present Agreement, and the national legal acts of their States. The Agreement shall not have impact on the Parties’ rights and obligations arising from international agreements and legal acts, which the Parties or their States have concluded.

Article 2

The Parties agree to cooperate in the following areas of labour and social protection:

a) Promoting employment, counteracting unemployment and mitigating unemployment effects, increasing quality of employment services and improving labour conditions;

b) Adequacy, sustainability and modernisation of the pension system;

c) Development of social assistance and family benefits schemes;

d) Tackling with problems of different social risk groups;

e) Social human rights;

f) Non-governmental organisations in social public partnership;

g) Gender equality and counteracting discrimination.

Article 3

1. Possible measures to implement the aims and objectives of this Agreement may include:

a) Exchanging experience on various measures taken for the development of national labour market and social policies, mutual consultations;

b) Promoting and extending co-operation between experts of both Parties as well as experts of appropriate subordinate institutions;

c) Promoting and extending co-operation within various international bodies;

d) Organisation of seminars or conferences on themes of mutual interest with participation of representatives from both countries.

2. By mutual agreement the Parties may agree on other measures.

Article 4

The Parties shall agree on the following financial and organisational arrangements:

1. The Lithuanian Party sending delegations, groups or individuals to the Republic of Armenia shall cover travel, accommodation and meals costs;

2. The Lithuanian Party receiving delegations, groups or individuals from the Republic of Armenia shall cover travel, accommodation and meals costs (maximum 5 person, 4 days for one event), as well as costs of technical arrangements inside the country (maximum two events per year).

3. The Armenian Party receiving delegations, groups or individuals from the Republic of Lithuania shall cover their costs of technical arrangements inside the country.

4. Separate financial arrangements on the coverage of expenses should be concluded on a case-by-case basis

Article 5

1. The present Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receiving the last notification by diplomatic channels on the completion of internal procedures envisaged by national legislation of the Parties.

2. By mutual consent of the Parties amendments and supplements to this Agreement may be done in a form of separate protocols. These Protocols shall enter into force in accordance with this Agreement and shall form its inseparable part.

3. Any dispute regarding the interpretation and application of the provisions of this Agreement shall be solved by consultations between the Parties.

4. This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of time. The Parties may terminate it any time by a written communication. In that case the Agreement shall cease to have effect after three months from the date when notification on its termination has been received by the other Party, without affecting the ongoing activities in the framework of this Agreement.

Signed at Yerevan, on October 4th, 2017 in two copies, each in the Armenian, Lithuanian and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence between the texts, the English text shall prevail.