Skopje, 1 May 2024 (MIA) - The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) staged Wednesday a protest on International Workers' Day, demanding rise of wages in the private and public sector, minimum wage at EUR 450 in the first 100 days of the new government, coverage of travel and food expenses in the amount of 20 percent of the average wage etc.

Independent Police Union president Goce Delchev Todev said workers need to come back to the country, while highlighting the continued emigration of young people.

Independent Union for Education and Science president Tomislav Gievski said workers should not give up on their demands.

"Collective agreements must be observed. We will continue to apply the same pressure and most importantly, we should not give up because we will lose the battle," said Gievski.

Unions also demanded limiting fixed-term contracts to a maximum of one year, right to a non-working Saturday and increased control of overtime work, lowering weekly working hours to 35 and cancelling the 72-hour work week on strategic projects.

SSM president Slobodan Trendafilov said they expect the next government to take their demands into account.

"Today we are here to tell those who will sit in the comfortable chairs they cannot decide about us without us, that we, the workers, choose and then expect them to respect our demands," said Trendafilov.

SSM vice-president Ivan Peshevski said workers die on the job, young people cannot start a family with fixed-term contracts, while wages are not sufficient for a decent life.

"Bosses and authorities should know they have stolen from all our brothers and sisters who have left abroad because they could not provide bread for their children," said Peshevski.

The protest started at the SSM, continued to the Parliament and ended in front of the Government building.

Photo/Video: MIA and screenshot