Skopje, 21 March 2023 (MIA) - The Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia (ECNWM) calls on the Government to liberalize the labor market, increase quotas for labor import and eliminate the barriers that prevent the recruitment of labor from other countries. It also calls for an end to the price-freeze of basic food products and instead urges for finding other ways to reduce prices for end users, such as reducing taxes and VAT and intervening through state reserves.

"The situation with the labor market in Macedonia is very alarming, because our young people are going abroad. The Government's priority should be to liberalize the labor market with the countries of the region, which has already started with some countries. We demand that this be done with Kosovo as well and to eliminate the barriers that prevent the recruitment of labor from other countries," said ECNWM president Mendi Qyra at a press conference on Tuesday. 

He stressed that the quotas for importing labor even as far as Asia must be increased, because there is a shortage of labor in the country, especially in hospitality, tourism and construction. 

"The Employment Agency should be more up-to-date and those who are registered as unemployed should enter the labor force and be employed by the companies that are looking for workers. Our country remains without labor force by the day, although in the last three years about 15,000 students graduated, but unfortunately they go abroad. We agree that the minimum wage should rise, but we strive to increase the most common wage to EUR 500-600, not the average one, in order to prevent the outflow of personnel abroad," Qyra said. 

In order to do that, he stressed, we insist on reducing the salary contributions, which in our country are progressive and very high.

"We call on the Government to reduce the contributions, so that other salaries can grow, not just the minimum. Companies can already pay an average salary of EUR 500-600, but for this to happen, contributions must be reduced, which start at 46 percent of the salary and are progressive. This means that the higher salary you pay, the more you have to pay, and on the other hand, there is no feedback in the health sector, where both those who pay EUR 150 in contributions and those who pay EUR 500 receive the same treatment," said Qyra. 

As a very important problem, he highlighted the price-freeze basic products.

"We insist on stopping the price-freeze and finding alternatives, i.e. intervening with state reserves and looking for other possibilities to reduce prices for end users, such as reducing taxes and VAT," said Qyra.

He pointed out that they had contacts with the authorities on the subject of price freezes and added that they are against it, because the economy is still in crisis, although not like during the pandemic and the energy crisis.

Фото: МИА