Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene has convened his 12th-morning meeting today with the representatives of the culture and arts sector, in the presence of Minister of Culture Ch. Nomin, Minister of Finance B. Javkhlan, and Minister of Labor and Social Protection Kh. Bulgantuya. This meeting serves as a vital platform for decision-making level discussion on matters pertaining to the culture and arts sector, aiming to foster collaboration and address pertinent issues at hand.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the management and artists of the Mongolian Grand Theatre of National Arts, Mongolian State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Mongolian State Academic Drama Theatre, Mongolian State Philharmonic Orchestra, Choijin Lama Temple Museum, National Library of Mongolia, Children's Central Library of Mongolia, and Arkhangai Aimag Musical Drama Theatre. They discussed and exchanged opinions about implementing the Government decisions and the problems in the field of culture and arts.

The participants of the meeting noted that artists and service workers in the culture and art sector, comprising approximately 30 percent of the total workforce earn a monthly salary of MNT 500,000 and urged to raise the current wage to MNT 1 million. Additionally, there is a need to increase the basic salary for employees at different levels within the sector and provide bonuses for the degree of qualification and expertise in compliance with the provisions outlined in the Law on Culture.

The current budget constraints, resulting from the implementation of the Law on Austerity, have significantly impacted the ability of libraries and cultural centers to augment their treasury or publication and artwork collections. In addition, measures should be taken to improve the funding and environment for secondary school libraries and allocate sufficient resources for this purpose. Furthermore, it is imperative to address the issue of librarians’ low salaries and the provision of modern equipment for cultural and artistic institutions.

To elevate the status of professional artists, it is recommended to consider reducing taxes and commissions imposed on wages, while also focusing on providing substantial increases in actual take-home pay. Moreover, state policy should be developed to support lighting and other culture specialists to overcome human resource shortages and improve the overall condition in the sector.