Skopje, 18 February 2026 (MIA) - Minister of Economy and Labor Besar Durmishi said Wednesday the minimum wage is more an issue of daily politics than a real demand, noting that of the 700,000 people having a job in the country, 100,000 are part of the public sector, while the remaining 600,000 work in the private sector.

"Of these, 30,000 receiving the minimum wage are registered in their companies as individual traders who don't depend on their minimum wage but the income of their companies. Therefore, about 3-4 percent of employees in the country get a minimum wage, all others have higher salaries," Minister Durmishi told a Q&A session in Parliament.

He said the Government has reiterated on several occasions it is not against an increase of salaries or the minimum wage.

"We have shown this through the rising salaries in the public sector, in agreement with trade unions, then in the sectors of health, education, defense, as well as pensions, but always taking into account the economic parameters, since we have the lowest productivity in the region," said Durmishi.

On the value of the minimum wage, the minister said North Macedonia is ahead of regional countries regarding the purchasing power of the minimum wage.

"We can have a minimum wage of EUR 1,000 but the question is what would that wage be worth? Any ad hoc decision that is not based on economic parameters would lead to reduced purchasing power and rising inflation," said Durmishi.

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