Skopje, 2 April 2025 (MIA) - We live in a democracy and everyone has a right to take to the streets and protest and express their discontent, but the mandate of the unions has expired, and they are no longer representative, Minister of Economy and Labor Besar Durmishi told journalists on Wednesday quizzed about the protest set to be staged by the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM).

“As a Government we established the commission that should determine the representativeness of the unions and the commission is already working. Once it determines which union is representative, I will summon a session of the Economic Social Council. That is precisely where the unions should state their demands, not on the street,” Durmishi said.

According to Durmishi, since the beginning of its term, the Government has said it respects the unions and is in favor of social dialogue.

“If the unions and employers agree on any other issue and any other methodology and legislation for the determining of the minimum wage, we are ready to help them as a Government,” Durmishi said.

The Minister said the Government acted in accordance with the law and the methodology on the minimum wage when it published the new minimum wage at the end of March.

“According to that methodology, the minimum wage stands at EUR 400 and has been increased by Mden 1.800 (EUR 30). As the competent minister, I published the minimum wage following a decision by the Government,” Durmishi said.

According to Durmishi, there could be no agreement on the minimum wage at the Economic Social Council due to the lack of a representative union.

“In line with the law which has been signed by the unions and employers, and following a decision by the Government, I was obliged to publish the minimum wage before March 31. The minimum wage then serves as a basis for calculations about the average wage and other wages. If we hadn’t published it by March 31 the entire country and all institutions would’ve been blocked, while the private sector would not have been able to calculate wages for its employees,” Durmishi said.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) is set to hold Wednesday a public session in front of the Parliament building, the Government building and the building of the Economic Chamber to present its positions on the minimum wage.

Photo: MIA