Skopje, 12 September 2025 (MIA) - The minimum wage is determined by the economic development, increase in productivity and the cost of living. An ad-hoc proposal without any economic justification and analysis will put pressure on small and medium enterprises, which are the backbone of our economy, said Minister of Economy and Labor Besar Durmishi on Friday.

Minister Durmishi told a Q&A session in Parliament the consequence of this would be the release of many workers, higher inflation and price hikes that would impact welfare cases and poor households.

He said the opposition's proposal to increase the minimum wage to Mden 30,000 (EUR 488) is not possible without having the required criteria met first.

"We have a formula for determining the minimum wage - the average wage increase accounts for 50 percent and the inflation rate in the previous year accounts for the other 50 percent. This mechanism is agreed by unions and workers and is practiced in Europe and in our country. It protects workers and secures the interests and real capacities of the national economy. When it comes to the minimum wage and Europe, our country is somewhere in the middle. Albania, Serbia and Bulgaria have the lowest minimum wage and we are right behind Croatia, Slovenia and Poland," said Durmishi.

The Minister said the Government has undertaken many measures to stabilize the inflation and ensure economic growth.

MIA file photo