The average monthly nominal salary in Tajikistan in January of this year amounted to 1,878 somoni ($184), which is 12.3% less compared to the previous month, according to the latest statistical report “Socio-economic situation in the Republic of Tajikistan.”
“The level of real wages (adjusted for inflation) in January 2023 compared to December 2022 decreased by 12.7%,” the report says.
The minimum wage in the republic is 600 somoni ($55).
Relatively high salaries in the first month of this year were received by employees of banks and insurance companies, where the average salary is 4,861 somoni ($477). The lowest wages remain with workers in the agricultural sector – 838 somoni ($82).
Meanwhile, the report states that the total wage arrears in Tajikistan, taking into account past years, at the beginning of February 2023 amounted to more than 28.6 million somoni (about $2.8 million).
The highest wage arrears were in the mining sector – about 15.2 million somoni (53.1% of the total debt) and the transport and storage sector – more than 6.2 million (21.7%).
The labor force (employed and officially registered unemployed) in the country in January of this year amounted to about 2.6 million people, among which 52 thousand people have the status of unemployed.
It should be noted that over 2 million citizens of 10 million Tajikistan, according to various sources, are employed outside the republic. The main reason for the outflow of labor from the republic is the lack of work with a decent salary.
Recall that from March 1 this year, the salaries of law enforcement officers and military personnel were increased by 25 percent, and other civil servants – by 20 percent. Starting July 1 this year, the salaries of healthcare and education workers will be increased by 20%.
The average monthly salary in Tajikistan remains at the lowest level among the countries of Central Asia + Russia.
Thus, according to official data, at the beginning of the second half of last year, the average salary in Kazakhstan was $650, in Turkmenistan – $383, in Uzbekistan – $335, in Kyrgyzstan – $280, and in Russia – $828.
Source : Asia Plus Tj