Armenia Abolishes Mandatory 65-Year Age Limit for Civil Servants

As of August 15, Armenia has officially abolished the 65-year age limit previously enforced for employees in the state and public sectors. Under this new regulation, the mandate that compelled tax, customs, and other civil servants to vacate their positions upon reaching retirement age is no longer in effect.

Affected Sectors and Positions

This legislative overhaul impacts various branches of public service. The maximum age requirement has been scrubbed from seven distinct laws governing scientific-technical activities, as well as public and municipal services. Specifically, the changes apply to the following roles:

• Civil, customs, and tax servants;
• State employees of the parliament (National Assembly);
• Heads of administrative bodies;
• Directors of state non-commercial organizations;
• Heads of professional educational institutions;
• The head of the personal data protection authority.

Resolving Legal Contradictions

The new law was drafted to resolve a legal loophole created during the 2023 revision of Armenia's Labor Code. While the 2023 amendments prohibited employers from dismissing staff solely based on age, older, sector-specific laws still retained their age limits. Consequently, certain public employees were previously denied the protections promised by the updated Labor Code.

Aligning with International Obligations

The prior legal discrepancy also posed challenges to the country's international commitments, notably its adherence to the European Social Charter. The Charter outlines that while governments are permitted to establish a standard retirement age, terminating employment automatically just because an individual reaches that age is not justifiable. Age-based dismissal is considered acceptable only when it serves a legitimate, objective purpose and represents a proportionate measure.