DUSHANBE, April 16, 2009, Asia-Plus — Deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) have endorsed bill on living wage.
A regular sitting of the fifth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the third convocation, presided over by its speaker, Saydullo Khairulloyev, was held on April 15.
Presenting the draft law, Labor and Social Protection Minister Shukurjon Zuhurov noted that the government had worked out it during five years.
“There is no a single standard of determining the living wage rate in the country,” said the minister, “Thus, the World Bank estimates the poverty level in the country at 61 percent, while according to the UNCEF’s estimates, it stood at 54 percent. Estimates of local experts also differ from each other.” According to him, the present law “determines only principles of the living wage, while to determine consumer basket (basket of goods) it is necessary to adopt an appropriate laws.”
For his part, MP Safarali Gulov noted that the proposed draft law determines principles of providing state support to vulnerable people. On the cost of the set of food products included in the consumer basket, he said that it should be 200-220 somoni per one family member per month. “According to the draft law, it will constantly change, depending on market prices,” Gulov said.
Zuhurov noted that the present cost of the set of food goods included in the consumer basket was estimated at 150-160 somoni.
After short discussion, parliamentarians unanimously approved the draft law on living wage.
