The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy said Minister Jovanka Trenchevska has met Monday with President of the Federation of Trade Unions (SSM), Darko Dimovski, for talks on minimum wage increase.

The Minister stressed that it is the Government’s commitment to increase the minimum wage to Mden 18,000 as soon as possible this year, adding that social dialogue with all stakeholders continues in order to find the most sustainable solution to all open issues, the press release reads.

“Minimum wage increase will continue throughout the entire mandate to amount to Mden 20,000. As a Government and as a Ministry we are constantly working to promote the status of workers. We appreciate the labor of workers, particularly amid a global economic and health crisis, and that is why, seeing the economic situation of the citizens, increasing the minimum wage is more than necessary. That is why there must be such an increase, particularly when knowing they cause spiral increase in all wages both in the private and public sectors,” Trenchevska has said.

The Minister has noted the meeting that was to be held with SSM representatives in the Government on Monday has been delayed due to the absence of the government officials who are paying an official visit to Sofia, where a joint session with the Bulgarian Government is scheduled for Tuesday. The Federation of Trade Unions, whose members were to meet with government officials on Monday for talks on minimum wage increase, said after the meeting was delayed that they will convene on Friday the Presidency and the Council of the trade unions to activate strike boards and set a date for strike preparations.

Source: MIA