Skopje, 6 August 2023 (MIA) - Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski expects that the adjustment of the wages of MIA employees will be resolved swiftly, at one of the upcoming sessions of the government.

When quizzed about the increase of the wages of MIA employees, who are staging warning protest, which should have been placed on the agenda at the last government’s session and was later on removed, Kovachevski in an interview with MIA failed to explain why the item was removed from the agenda, but he expects a swift solution.

The government highly appreciates the role and importance of the state Media Information Agency. Personally, I think that this issue is of great importance, and therefore I expect that the adjustment of wages of MIA employees will be resolved quickly, at one of the next sessions, Kovachevski said.

He emphasized that free media is the foundation and pillar of democracy.

“This government, unlike some others in the past, has set high standards in terms of transparency and accountability, but also media freedom and opportunities and working conditions. That is why the government has been evaluated as 100 percent transparent,” Kovachevski said.

He said that they see the media as partners, with which they continue to work in the promotion of media freedom and rights.

“The best proof of the democratic and government’s EU is the fact that today the Republic of North Macedonia is ranked 38th out of 180 countries in the world and records new progress in the latest World Press Freedom Index, based on a report released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). North Macedonia is ranked 38th out of 180 countries in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index, based on a report released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), climbing 19 spots compared to its ranking in 2022. For comparison, in 2016, the country was ranked 118th out of 180 countries,” Kovachevski said in an interview with MIA.

Since July 27, MIA employees are staging a daily 30-minute warning protest demanding higher wages in line with rising living expenses. The management team sent the request for adjustment of wages to the government back in April, but so far, there has been no response.

A meeting between MIA’s general director and the presidents of the Union of Media Information Agencies (SMIA) and the Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) is scheduled for Monday (August 7).

Photo: MIA archive