MOSCOW, November 10 (RIA Novosti) - Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said Thursday he was for restricting the growth in wages in monopoly sectors. "We ask the government adopt a decision to restrict wage growth in some sectors," Kudrin told the cabinet.
He cited average wages in Gazprom, Russian natural gas monopoly, total 44,000 rubles ($1,526), in other oil and gas companies 28-29,000 rubles ($1,006), in the Russian Railways company 13,400 rubles ($465), and compared these figures with the nation's average wages of 8,600 rubles ($298) .
"Monopolies increase wages ahead of any other companies, by using the money received from tariffs paid by consumers and businesses," the minister said.
The minister's statement came in the context of inflation concerns, as the government has failed to meet the inflation target of 10-12%, and has had to review inflation forecasts several times this year.
