Skopje, 13 June 2023 (MIA) - The Government aims for increase in all wages, in order to improve the citizens' living standard. The continuous growth of wages in the public and private sectors, despite several successive global economic crises in the past three years, confirms this, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday.

"Regarding the request by some of the tax workers for pay rise, we point out that the Government aims for a system of wage growth for the entire public sector. Through the Economic and Social Council and with social partners, work is underway to establish a wage system for all public sector employees. A new law on salaries for public sector employees and a general collective agreement for the public sector are being prepared, which will enable continued wage growth in the future. In conditions where such a systemic solution is expected to be established, regarding which discussions are ongoing at the Economic and Social Council, individual solutions, before finalizing these two acts, will be a violation of the establishment of such system and reaching a final goal," the press release reads.

The Government's goal is to establish a uniform, systemic solution that will be fiscally sustainable long-term, and that will adequately valorize workers' labor. The Ministry of Finance expect negotiations at the Economic and Social Council to continue and a sustainable solution acceptable to all parties be reached soon. ssh/nn/