Tajikistan’s total wage arrears have reportedly decreased. However, speaking at a meeting of the Republican Commission for the Prevention and Elimination of Wage Arrears in the northern city of Khujand, the Minister of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population, Ms. Shirin Amonzoda, stated on November 18 that it is necessary to take immediate measures to eliminate wage arrears, the press center of the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population (MoLMEP) says.
She reportedly noted that issue of timely payment of salary is under the control of the president.
“In this regard, we need to take immediate measures in that direction,” the minister was cited as saying.
According to date from the Agency for Statistics under the Government of Tajikistan, Tajikistan’s total wage arrears have amounted to more than 27.6 million somonis (about US$2.7 million) as of September 1 this year, which is reportedly 25 percent or 9 million somonis fewer compared to the beginning of the year.
Decrease in wage arrears is reportedly observed in all types of economic activity of the real sector of the country’s economy, with the exception of the processing industry, where wage arrears have reportedly increased by 0.8 percent or 6,200 percent over the first eight months of this year.
Meanwhile, the largest wage areas have been reported in the mining sector – 15 million somonis (54.3 percent of the country’s total wage arrears), transportation and storage of goods – more than 6.1 million somonis (22.2 percent).
In August, an average nominal salary in Tajikistan amounted to 1,623 somonis (equivalent to US$160).
In Tajikistan, the highest average nominal monthly salary is reported in the financial sector – 4,949 somonis (equivalent to US$485) and the lowest average nominal salary is reported in the agrarian sector – 672.00 somonis (equivalent to US$66).
In Tajikistan, current minimum monthly wage is 600.00 somonis (equivalent to US$57).