DUSHANBE, February 4, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The Dushanbe employment agency intends to hold 16 job vacancy fairs this year, the agency director Safarali Hakimov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, they are taking efforts to place in jobs Tajik labor migrants that are returning home from other countries.

“The agency has held two job fairs this year so far,” said Hakimov, “More than 125 local organizations and enterprise participated at the last fair that was held on January 31 and offered 6.530 vacancies with average monthly wages fluctuating from 150 to 600 somoni.”

Of 11,000 people that visited the fair, only 1,284 were placed in jobs, 634 others were sent to training courses and 131 people were recruited for seasonal work abroad.”  “Among the visitors were labor migrants returning from Russia and they were interested mainly in jobs in the construction sector; construction companies offered jobs with highest average monthly wages -- up to 600 somoni (equivalent to some $160).”