DUSHANBE, January 14, 2014, Asia-Plus -- As of January 1, 2014, the number of public servants in Tajikistan was estimated at more than 18,000, Grez Qosimov, the head of the Public Service Directorate under the President of Tajikistan, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 14.

“482 public servants now receive pensions; 253 of them are working with the central office and the remaining 229 people are working with local authorities,” Grez Qosimov noted.

According to him, women now constitute more than 23 percent of public servants in Tajikistan and young adults under the age of 35 constitute some 41 percent of public servants in the country. 

Last year, an average monthly wage of Tajik public servants was raised by 15 to 20 percent.  The basic wage rate for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th class public servants has been set 405.00 somoni and the basic wage rate for 5th, 6th, and 7th class public servants has been set at 450.00 somoni.  

We will recall that Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament on April 24, 2013 endorsed the bill requiring amendments to the country’s Labor Code.  The bill provides for mandatory rotation of government officials.