OREANDA-NEWS. June 03, 2009. Measures the Government Cabinet must take to improve the situation in the labour market were among the subjects of discussion.

The Deputy Prime Minister informed the President on the demographic situation in Russia. Mr Zhukov reported that in the first four months of 2009 the birth rate in Russia increased by 3.2 percent while the mortality rate declined by 4 percent. The natural population decline decreased by 26 percent compared with the similar period in 2008.

Mr Zhukov stressed the progress that has been made in reducing mortality from cardiovascular diseases, which confirms that high technology and diagnostic centres are operating effectively. Mortality rates as a result of traffic accidents also declined.