Skopje, 30 April 2025 (MIA) - The head of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM), Slobodan Trendafilov, said Wednesday the union would stage a protest on May 1 – International Workers’ Day to call for higher wages and better workers’ rights. The union will begin its protest at 11 a.m. in front of SSM’s headquarters and proceed to march to the buildings of Parliament and the Government.

“The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia will stage a protest on May 1 to demand an increase of the minimum wage to at least EUR 500, an increase to all other wages by EUR 100, respect for collective agreements,” Trendafilov said at a press conference.

The union leader said other unions would join the protest as well, who, he stressed, “are on the side of workers’ rights”. 

“The protest is a way to express our dissatisfaction with the wages that workers in Macedonia are being paid, which we have said on many occasions are the lowest in the region. The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia urges everyone who wishes workers well to join the workers’ protest tomorrow, May 1, at 11 a.m.,” Trendafilov said.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Macedonia (KSS) announced they wouldn’t participate in tomorrow’s protest. KSS head Blagoja Ralpovski said he believes there exists “good social dialogue” in the country, adding that problems should always be solved on the negotiating table.

Ralpovski said the Government has demonstrated “a readiness” to continue to raise public sector wages as of May 1, “but those protesting tomorrow should be asked why this won’t happen,” he added.

“The solution to problems ultimately always comes at the negotiating table, through social dialogue. We have good social dialogue now, and that is why we will mark May 1 in this way. Once we feel that our rights are threatened or that we are being discriminated, then, rest assured, we won’t wait for May 1, but we will immediately come out to protest,” the KSS head told journalists. 

Photo: MIA