Authorities forecast 30 pct increase in average salary in Moldova for 2008

Authorities anticipate for the next year a growth by about 30 percent in the average salary in Moldova’s economy. According to Deputy Economy and Trade Minister Sergiu Sainciuc, in 2008 the average salary on economy was set at the level of 2,630 lei, compared to 2,015 lei for 2007. At the same time, the deputy minister mentioned that the average salary for 2007 will beat initial forecasts and will amount to about 2,100 lei by the end of the year. Sergiu Sainciuc added that in ten months of 2007 alone the average salary rose to 1,994 lei. Authorities promise for December 2008 an average salary on economy of 300 dollars, while for the first quarter of 2009 they promise the same salary for the budget-paid employees. Currently, only 10 percent of salary earners in the country receive more than 300 dollars per month. The national economy’s branches with an average salary exceeding 300 dollars are air transport, pipe-line transport, post, telecommunications, financial activities, power and heat production, tobacco products manufacturing, etc. In January-September 2007, the highest average salaries were paid in the financial-banking field – 4,266 lei (+15.4 percent compared to the first nine months of 2006) and energy sector – 3,386 lei (+21.8 percent). The lowest average salaries were paid to farmers - 977 lei (+29.3 percent). The average salary in education was 1,294 lei (+ 7.1 percent), and in health care and social assistance – 1,625 lei (+25.8 percent).