15.2.2017
Today the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia held a press conference regarding the text of the "Social Progress Protocol", adopted at the last meeting of the Presidency and the Council of CCM.
Caption 1: The leadership of CCM on the press conference
The press conference was attended by the President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, PhD Zhivko Mitrevski, the Secretary of the Council of CCM and the Vice- presidents of CCM.
Increase of wages based on the increase of prices of products, services and GDP, definition of employment contracts within the companies in TIDZ, pension service for certain professions are only part of the requirements contained in the "Social Progress Protocol".
According to the current conditions, the analysis of CCM shows that there is room for wage increase, but the real opportunity to increase the wages shall be determined together with the social partners.
On the press conference it was emphasized that the Protocol shall be focused on the issue of further increase of the minimum wage in order a joint strategy to increase wages to be prepared that shall boost growth, fill the gap between jobs and sectors, eliminate poverty, inequality and social exclusion.
The idea of this Protocol is not only the minimum wage issue to be discussed, but to discuss the general wage issue in Macedonia, since there is great inequality identified for same work places, which generates social exclusion and therefore this issue is inserted into one strategy.
- Our analysis has shown that there is plenty of room and possibilities to increase the minimum wage. According to our assessment of the minimum wage, which now stands at 10,080 denars, it should be increased, considering that the union consumer’s basket, which shows that over 41 percent of the funds are being spent on food and that is enough alarming for the beginning of a negotiation process with the social partners, to open opportunities for establishing another dynamics and additional criteria to monitor the growth of prices and to determine a minimum wage which shall be rational and shall provide further improvement to the standard, said Mitrevski.
Also at the press conference it was emphasized that the problem with the employment contracts in the factories from the industrial zones shall be solved, requiring 30 percent of the contracts to be concluded for an indefinite period of time, and to reduce the period of employment of definite period of time from 5 to 3 i.e. 2 years.
Another requirement included in the Protocol is the beneficial years of service, particularly in the sectors of construction, transport, railway and forestry, as well as in other professions where needed.
The Protocol also envisages joint activities for capacity building and education, as well as enabling the use of additional exemptions when using certain fees associated with business as well as fees related to educational TU concepts.
The Draft Protocol shall be submitted to the Economic and Social Council and the new government.
Draft- Social Progres Protocol of CCM (45.76 KB) 
