DUSHANBE (Avesta news agency) — The total payroll arrears in the Republic of Tajikistan, including those from previous years, amounted to more than 51.1 mln somoni (about $5 mln) as of early May this year, according to the country’s Statistics Agency.

In the current year, wage arrears have increased by more than 16.9 mln somoni, or 33.1% of the total debt.

The highest debt in the real sector of the economy (in general, more than 40.2 mln somoni) remains in the construction sector (15.4 mln somoni or 30.3% of the total) and mining (14.1 mln somoni or 27.7%).

In the services sector, the total wage arrears, taking into account previous years, amounted to more than 10.8 mln somoni.

The average nominal monthly wage in the republic in April this year was 1,363 somoni ($132), the minimum 400 somoni.

The lowest wages in the republic are received by farmers, foresters and fishermen (an average of 610 somoni), and the highest wages are in banking (3,523 somoni).