President Rakhmonov signed a decree on 4 November raising the minimum wage and salaries of government employees as of 1 January 2005. Spokesman Abdufattoh Sharipov told the news agency that workers in science, health care, and social services will get a 100 percent raise, preschool and elementary school teachers a 70 percent raise, other teachers a 60 percent raise, and other state employees in the educational and cultural spheres a 50 percent raise. The minimum-wage unit, which is also used to calculate pensions, will increase from 7 somonis ($2.50) to 12 somonis ($4.30) in 2005. (Asia Plus-Blitz)