Skopje, 1 July 2023 (MIA) – We are moving towards a solution, and it is key that it is systemic and defines the dynamic of wages, said Minister of Finance Fatmir Besimi on Saturday, after the Economic and Social Council agreed at a meeting Thursday for the Government to carry out new simulations of the union’s proposals over the calculation of wages in the public sector by Monday.

“We will meet on Monday and maybe one more time during the week. We are moving towards a solution. In principle, we agree, we are moving on how to design the package, to have a systemic solution in the General Collective Agreement and define the dynamic of the wages. We will have a unified system. We currently have different methods, different models. They deliberated over whether the minimum wage or the average should be taken as a basis, most of them were in favor of the average wage. For us, it was about adapting the model based on the union’s demands. The latest thing we are discussing is a coefficient with the average wage and a period of transition,” said Besimi at a press briefing Saturday.

The Minister said he expects they will find a solution that will be acceptable for everyone.

Besimi assessed this is one of the largest reforms ever done in the public sector wages, and that their growth will be guaranteed with legislation or a collective agreement, and, he said, “what happens in the public sector, will undoubtedly be reflected in the wages in the private sector.”

According to a press release from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy on Thursday, the methodology for the growth of wages in the public sector was presented at the meeting of the Economic and Social Council. The methodology proposes a transition period between 2023 and 2025, i.e., wage increases during a period of 2.5 years.

“After the constructive discussion between the social partners, a conclusion was reached that the transition period of 2.5 years is acceptable, and the government representatives will carry out new simulations based on the proposals submitted by the unions,” said the Ministry.

Photo: MIA