Skopje, 31 March 2025 (MIA) – The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) is set to hold a public session of SSM bodies and the affiliated unions' bodies on Wednesday (April 2), beginning at 12:05 pm in front of the Workers' Home.

The participants will proceed to the Parliament, the Economic Chamber, and the Government, where the session will continue.

As announced by SSM today, the public session was decided by the SSM Presidency on March 28, with the aim of voicing public opinion in support of social and economic interests, protecting workers' rights, and safeguarding the right to freedom of association and trade union organization.

“MPs elected by the workers should propose and vote for SSM’s initiative to increase the minimum wage by an additional Mden 6,000 (EUR 97), as well as to raise all other salaries in the private sector in line with the minimum wage increase. They should not vote for laws that undermine workers' rights to their disadvantage, just as united as they are when rejecting laws that would cut their own privileges,” the press release reads.

SSM calls on employers from the Economic Chamber to accept the workers' offer for a wage increase in order to retain skilled labour in the country. They emphasize that at least 15,000 workers and citizens leave Macedonia every year, and if wages are not increased, employers will be the primary cause of the worker exodus.

“The Government should stand by the workers, stop making unilateral decisions that harm them, respect social dialogue, and put an end to attacks on trade unions and attempts to silence workers. As the largest employer, the government should increase the salaries of public sector employees in accordance with the general collective agreement for the public sector, sectoral collective agreements, employer-level collective agreements, and align them with the minimum wage as stipulated by special laws,” SSM press release states.

Photo: MIA archive