Unpaid salaries at 127 million lei

As of May 30, the amount of salaries that the companies owed to their employees stood at 127 million lei, but no delays exist in paying out salaries to the public sector employees, said Economy Minister Igor Dodon at the Government's meeting on Monday, Info-Prim Neo reports. The average salary in Moldova in the first five months of this year was 2,619 lei, up by 12.6 percent in nominal terms on the similar period last year. According to Dodon, a significant rise in salaries in this period was seen in the public sector, due to the raises given on January 1 and April 1. In the real sector there is a rise in salaries, too, but it's smaller, said the minister. In April the paysheet in the real sector dropped significantly, indicating to a cut in working hours, by sending employees on a forced leave or even by cutting jobs. The jobless rate rose to 7.7 percent from 5.5 percent registered by the end of the first quarter. [1 leu = $0.09]