- Македонски
- English
The private sector in Macedonia is the main driver of the country's economic situation. The private sector is something that must be improved immediately with qualified staff and young people, said at today's press conference the Vice President of the Confederation of Macedonian Trade Unions for the Private Sector Ivan Pesevski
However, for these two things, dignified or safe working conditions and higher salaries are needed. Higher salaries are not 500 euros per month, but 500 euros minimum salary, which will be multiplied by the coefficient of complexity to make salaries in this sector exceed 50 and 60,000 denars. As much as the minimum that employees in the private sector should receive, especially employees in labor-intensive activities. This request of ours applies to all employers in the private sector, especially those who a few days ago declared that there is a shortage of staff in the country.
There will be even more shortages if you do not increase salaries. With all due respect to certain employers also from the private sector who respect both the Law and the collective agreement, so these problems have long been overcome, but this is a very small percentage of the total number of employees.
For these employees, in addition to public sector employees, SCM has filed a series of reports and provided free legal aid, especially those affected by unjustifiably reduced or not paid salaries within the legal deadline, unpaid annual board reimbursement, unjustifiably unpaid salary supplements as past work, etc.
As a reminder, during 2024 alone, 12,234 workers who contacted SCM and the unions associated with SCM received free legal aid and protection.
In the section on protests and strikes, I would single out: Protest and strike in Makedonski Šumi, Post Office, Water Management, ZK Pelagonija, Protest of healthcare workers in front of the Ministry of Health, Protest of UPOZ in front of the Health Fund, Feni Industry, MANU, etc.
These protests and strikes resulted in the signing of collective agreements and the payment of salaries.
Meanwhile, while the request of the SSM for the number of members and representativeness at the state level is being considered, several attacks have been reported against members of the branches of the SSM and pressures to disaffiliate and favor another union that unfortunately does not demand a salary increase, so we suspect that this is why it is also favored by the government.
Our appeal is not to succumb to this type of pressure, and the members have long ago voluntarily and arbitrarily decided which union they will be a member of. Our appeal is that all workers and other stakeholders who believe they deserve better working conditions and higher salaries should join the SSM May Day protest scheduled for 11 a.m. sharp in front of this House. Finally, I would like to urge employers and the Government to start looking for the blame in their ranks, and not in the workers, because we will also be left without those workers who are still doing their best to feed their families in Macedonia.
Therefore, an urgent increase in salaries is needed, especially for workers in the private sector.
HIGHER SALARIES ARE NOT 500 EUROS SALARY, BUT 500 EUROS MINIMUM SALARY, WHICH WILL BE MULTIPLIED BY THE COEFFICIENT AND ALL OTHER SALARIES WILL INCREASE!
