All members of the League of Trade Unions of Macedonia, workers, as well as members of other unions led by leaders who do not fight for your wages, are invited to join us on Saturday at 12:05 in front of the House of Workers, to send a new message that wages, including the minimum wage, must increase for everyone, LSM President Slobodan Trendafilov called today at a press conference.
He emphasized that workers must fight for their wages themselves, because, as he said, others will not fight for them. According to him, the wages that workers receive are the result of their work, sweat, and toil, and not a gift from their employers.
Trendafilov assessed that the proposed adjustment of the minimum wage to 1.667 denars is insufficient, given the continuous increase in living costs. As an argument, he also mentioned the increase in the value of the minimum trade union basket by 2.000 denars within just two months.
Trendafilov stressed that around 160,000 workers in the country, according to data from the Public Revenue Directorate, live on wages below the poverty line, which, he said, further proves the need for an immediate increase in the minimum wage and other salaries.
Regarding the last session of the Economic and Social Council, Trendafilov informed that the LSM left the session due to the attempt to regulate the minimum wage to only 1.667 denars.
“We have decided to demand a minimum wage of 600 euros and at least a 6,000 denar increase for all other workers’ salaries,” he declared. After the LSM left, the session was left without a quorum, so no decision could be made.
Trendafilov added that, according to the law, the opinion of the Economic and Social Council is necessary to determine the minimum wage, where all representative organizations of workers and employers must be present.
"We believe that the minimum wage should be increased in March. They don't give it, we earn it," Trendafilov said, repeating the call for mass participation in Saturday's protest.
Saturday's protest will begin at 12:05 in front of the LSM, continue in front of the Parliament, then in front of the Chamber of Commerce, and end in front of the Government.
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