Skopje, 1 May 2025 (MIA) - The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) will mark Thursday International Workers’ Day by staging a protest demanding higher pays and better working conditions. 

Starting from 11 am, protesters will gather in front of Parliament and the government, SSM head Slobodan Trendafilov said yesterday.

“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 told 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 on May 1,” 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.

International Workers’ Day is marked annually on May 1 to commemorate the victims of the 1886 strike in Chicago, where protesters demanded an 8-hour workday. In 1889, a declaration was adopted at a congress of the Second International calling on workers from all around the world to protest for improvement and protection of workers’ rights.

May Day around the world is traditionally marked by protest marches. In the country, May Day is a public holiday.

MIA file photo