BASIC AMOUNT OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT MAKES 60% OF THE MINIMAL MONTHLY
SALARY IN NKR STARTING FROM JANUARY 1 2005

STEPANAKERT, May 18. /ARKA/. Basic amount of unemployment benefit
has totaled 60% of the minimal monthly salary, i.e. AMD 9 000 in
NKR starting from January 1 2005. As Lenston Gulyan, the NKR Social
Security Minister told ARKA News Agency, the unemployment rate in NKR
made 5,5%as of May 1, 2005, against 5,7% in the same period of 2004.

The quantity of the unemployed reached 3278 against 3314 last year.

The share of urban population prevails – about 91,4%. Since the
beginning of the year, about 264 unemployed were removed from the
registry, connected with occurrence of new vacancies. The share of
unemployed women made 92,5% or 3032.

As of January 1, 2005, 124 unemployed receive unemployment benefits in
NKR. This indicator has reduced by 30,7% compared to the same period
of 2004. The quantity of people with higher education made 10,1% of
the overall number of unemployed. The people up to 30 years made 47,6%
of the unemployed, people within 30-50 years- 48,1%, people over 50
and older made 4,3% of the unemployed. L.V.-0–