On completion of the video conference, Deputy Prime Minister Zhukov told the media that the Government is in control of the labour market situation and will take all necessary measures to avert an upsurge in unemployment this autumn.

Mr Zhukov reported that the number of officially registered unemployed people has been falling in recent months. "Both the aggregate number of jobless people and the number of officially registered unemployed people has fallen over the last three months," he said.

According to Mr Zhukov, concerns over growth in unemployment are due to seasonal factors. As a rule, the number of people applying to employment agencies rises in autumn.

One of the measures the Government has undertaken to avoid an increase in unemployment is ensuring up-to-date statistical monitoring of developments in the Russian labour market. Mr Zhukov stated that the Federal Service for State Statistics has been charged with reporting changes in the number of unemployed persons every month rather than once a quarter.

As far as employment at AvtoVAZ, in Mr Zhukov's view, "a targeted programme should be developed to stabilise the labour market situation in Tolyatti."