The average monthly wage in Bulgaria was 484 leva/247.44 euro for the first quarter of 2008, according to estimates released by the National Statistical Institute on Saturday.

This amount was by 28 leva/14.31 euro) or 6.1 per cent up from the previous quarter (2 leva/1.02 euro up in the public sector and 36 leva/18.40 up in the private sector).

The figures are derived from a quarterly Survey of Persons Employed, Time Worked, Wage Resources and Other Labour Costs, BTA reports.

Persons working under an employment and civil-service relationship in the economic activities Financial Intermediation were the best paid during the period, with an average monthly wage of 1,153 leva/589.47 euro, followed by Production and Distribution of Electricity, Gas and Water, 818 leva/418.20 euro.

The lowest wages were paid in the economic activitiees Hotels and Restaurants, an average 315 leva/161.04 euro, and Agriculture, Game Management, Forestry and Fisheries, 348 leva/177.91.

Compared to the first quarter of 2007, the average monthly wage rose by 95 leva/48.57euro or 24.4 per cent (25.4 per cent in the public sector and 24.3 per cent in the private sector).

Employees at public-financed organizations and funds drew wages that were by 93 leva/47.55 euro or 23.1 per cent larger than in the first quarter of 2007. The comparable rise in commercial companies, enterprises and for-profit organizations was 96 leva/49.08 euro or 24.9 per cent.