The average salary in Volyn continues to remain one of the lowest in Ukraine. Among the reasons for this situation, experts consider the concealment of actual earnings. Thus, the average salary of employees of Lutsk hotels and restaurants is 301.5 UAH per month, reported to the Western Information Corporation by the head of the main department of labor and social protection of the population of the Volyn Regional State Administration, Volodymyr Kets. \n \nThe issue of the level of wages and the state of repayment of wage arrears again became key during an operational meeting at the Volyn Regional State Administration. According to Volodymyr Kets, despite the fact that the rate of wage growth in the region is among the highest in Ukraine, its level continues to remain in second-to-last place in the state. The average wage of one full-time employee in April 2005 in Volyn was 525.7 UAH, or 71.6% of its level overall. \n \nThe lowest level of remuneration in Volyn continues to remain in agriculture – only 217 hryvnias, or only 45% of the regional average. According to statistical data, a low level of remuneration was recorded among employees of hotels and restaurants – 301.5 UAH; those providing collective, public and personal services – 366.3 UAH; fisheries – 373.5 UAH. \n \nExperts find no other explanation for such paradoxes than the concealment of actual incomes. In their opinion, the main reason for low salaries in prestigious and profitable sectors of the economy is "salaries in envelopes." \n