Doctoral minimum

An increase in salaries for scientists will be accompanied by a reduction in “dead souls”

The government took the first step towards thousand-dollar earnings for employees of the Russian Academy of Sciences. According to the decree signed in the last days before the holidays by Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, an increase in official salaries for RAS employees began on May 1. Fulfilling the promises made a year ago by the head of the Ministry of Education and Science Andrei Fursenko will take several years, and scientific trade unions fear that, in parallel with the increase in salaries, there will be a reduction in the staff of the academy.

According to the new estimate, by the end of this year the bare salaries of directors of research institutes (excluding allowances) will be 9.5 thousand rubles. per month, their deputies - 8.3 thousand, scientific secretaries, heads of departments and chief researchers - 7.2 thousand rubles. Senior research associates will receive 5,500 rubles each, and research associates will receive 4,700 rubles each. and junior researchers - 4,100 rubles each. From January 1, 2007, these figures will increase by approximately 40%. And by January 2008, according to the plans of government leaders, salaries in the scientific field should increase so that directors of institutes receive no less than 26.5 thousand rubles, and, for example, laboratory assistants no less than 10 thousand. Mr. Fursenko promises that Taking into account various incentive bonuses, the total average income of employees of RAS institutes will approach the “psychological threshold” of 30 thousand rubles.

Mikhail Fradkov's resolution was met differently in academic circles. The joy of the salary increase for many was overshadowed by the fear of impending rate cuts. The Ministry of Education and Science does not deny its intention to gradually reduce the staff of ineffective institutes, but at the same time, Mr. Fursenko’s department assured the Vremya Novostei correspondent that actually working employees of academic institutes should not be afraid of being fired. At the same time, the government, by increasing funding for the scientific sector, expects scientists to spend federal money more wisely and work more efficiently.

As you know, after long and emotional disputes, officials and academicians agreed to reduce the RAS staff by about 20% by 2009. As Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valery Kozlov said yesterday, about 7% of budget rates should be released by the end of this year. According to him, the main reason for “expulsion” from work was the low activity of employees. “If a person has not been engaged in serious scientific activity for a long time, has not participated in projects, then he is included in this list,” Mr. Kozlov explained the principles of reduction.

Meanwhile, in addition to employees of the Academy of Sciences, May Day also brought an increase in salaries for all public sector employees. Their salaries increased by 15%. As the authorities promised, this increase will not be the only one in 2006. From October 1, public sector employees' salaries will increase by another 11%. In addition, officials raised the minimum wage level. If since September last year the minimum wage was 800 rubles, then from May 1 this amount was increased to 1,100 rubles.

Kirill VASILENKO