Skopje, 7 October 2024 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Monday evening that the Economic and Social Council will be constituted and begin work on either October 10 or 17.

“These are the two dates that we’ve looked at with the Minister of Economy and Labor, Besar Durmishi,” Mickoski told MRT.

In response to the statements by the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) and the Organization of Employers of Macedonia remarking that the Council did not convene during the first 100 days in office of the Government and that nothing has been done, Mickoski said SSM is “one of the few institutions that are politically instructed”, claiming that the President of the Federation of Trade Unions was “elected in a suspicious way”.

“They didn’t even wait 100 days, they immediately started attacking the Government. They didn’t even wait ten days. Then, the Preisdent of the Federation of Trade Unions, who became President in a suspicious way, started attacking the new Government. His sole message was to attack in order to secure higher wages without having any parameter at disposal so that we can discuss, without even asking for a meeting or some kind of dialogue,” Mickoski said.

He said the Government is talking to the Education, Science and Culture Workers' Union (SONK) as well as other unions who have requested dialogue.

“I think very soon from now, some of the unions, together with the Government, will come out with a final position and we will reach an agreement. I regret that the President of the Federation of Trade Unions was elected in that way, he became President in a suspicious way, but that is their choice and I can’t judge,” Mickoski added.

Regarding the employers, Mickoski noted that he has continously spoken to the economic chambers. 

Photo: Government