Demands for an increase of the minimum wage to Mden 18,000 (EUR 292) will be on the agenda of the Economic-Social Council on Wednesday.
The Federation of Trade Unions (SSM) has said this is the final deadline before a strike is staged.
The Government says the minimum wage should increase but through a systemic solution resulting from a dialogue among all social partners. SSM president Darko Dimovski said after a meeting with Government officials earlier in the week they would stage a strike and use other forms of protest if their demands were not met. “SSM does not accept the words ‘will’ but ‘when’ and ‘how much’. That is why I am a bit agitated by the attitude of the social partners. The fight for workers’ rights continues on Wednesday. The only objective is the worker’s livelihood amid this economic, covid and energy crisis,” said Dimovski.
The Government said the minimum wage would continue to rise but a sustainable solution should be found through dialogue. “We believe that a solution can be found through talks including the Government, employers and workers, presenting facts and arguments and coming to a solution that is beneficial for all sides. At the meetings we will also open the issue on a change in the minimum wage criteria,” said Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska after a meeting with the Organization of Employers of Macedonia.
Unions demand an urgent increase of the minimum wage from the current Mden 15,200 (EUR 246) to Mden 18,000 (EUR 292) due to rising living costs, economic and energy crisis, accompanied by a rise of all other salaries. The minimum wage alignment is conducted every March using three criteria – one-third of the rise of the average wage in the country, one-third of the rise of the living costs, and one-third of the rise of the GDP. The minimum wage was regulated in 2012, initially standing at Mden 8,050 (EUR 130).
Source: MIA
