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The minimum wage in the country must be increased immediately, said the president of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM), Slobodan Trendafilov, at today’s debate at “Textilijada 9” in Shtip.
“A worker works for himself, for the employer and for the management team, and receives a salary of only 400 euros, which is not enough to survive the month,” Trendafilov emphasised.
According to data from the National Bank, a worker earns his boss between 300,000 and 600,000 denars in net profit per year, while he himself lives on a minimum wage.
CSM has so far organised 22 protests and two strikes with a clear demand – a minimum wage of at least 500 euros, which would enable a dignified life.
Trendafilov reminded that two minimum wages do not cover the union minimum basket, which today amounts to around 65,000 denars, and according to him, “100,000 denars is needed to live the way officials live.”
“In the region, minimum wages are 500 euros and more – in Serbia, Bosnia, and even in Albania. Workers should not go to Germany, but be able to live decently at home,” said the president of the SCM.
Regarding the new Labour Relations Law, Trendafilov noted that it has been stalled for seven years:
“This law has been waiting longer than the time it takes for a child to start first grade. Instead of real dialogue, we are seeing dangerous changes to the detriment of workers.”
