Skopje, 2 April 2025 (MIA) - The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) leadership urged Wednesday the Government to withdraw the decision on increase of the minimum wage by Mden 1,800 (EUR 30) and reduce salaries of elected and appointed officials to the minimum wage level.

"We are here today to send a final message - you cannot decide about us without us. SSM staged a general strike of the public sector two years ago. We are close to doing the same. Do not treat the workers as third-category citizens. We are here in front of the Government, the country's largest employer, seeking for observance of collective agreements and increase of public sector wages," SSM president Slobodan Trendafilov told a public session.

The SSM leadership said that a general strike would be staged if the minimum wage is not increased, and a protest if workers' salaries are not upped.

"We are not here to topple the Government, but to raise salaries," added Trendafilov.

Union of workers from administration, judiciary and civic associations (UPOZ) president Trpe Deanoski said a decision on increase of the minimum wage was taken without consulting the unions for the time on record.

"This is the first government that is working on stripping SSM from its representation, so there is no Economic-Social Council. Fifty-eight percent of workers in administration and judiciary are currently below the minimum threshold, even with these EUR 30. We are not afraid, nor we will fear. We wait for your call, otherwise we will come by ourselves," Deanoski told the rally.

Earlier, SSM urged lawmakers to adopt a decision on an increase of the minimum wage to EUR 500, or otherwise lower their salaries to the minimum wage level. They also told employers to increase workers' wages to prevent the labor emigration trend.

"When 10,000 young workers emigrate from the country on a yearly basis, it is a way of telling employers that people will no longer work for measly wages," said Union of Industry, Energy and Mining (SIER) president Igor Gerasov.

The Government has said that the amount of the minimum wage is legitimate and set in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Minimum Wage.

Photo: MIA, screenshot