DUSHANBE, July 24, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- As of June 30, 2009, 44,600 unemployed were officially registered with the employment bodies, Labor and Social Protection Minister Shukurjon Zuhurov remarked at a press conference in Dushanbe on July 23.

According to him, more than 88,000 new jobs have been created in the country over the first half-year of 2009, which is 35,000 jobs more than in the same period of last year and 59 percent of the employment support plan designed for 2008-2009.

Over the report period 385 job fairs have been held across the country and more than 34,400 people have been placed in jobs, the minister said.  “However, many people have refused jobs because of low wage rates,” Zuhurov said.