SDSM accuses Mickoski: More than 73% of citizens earn below-average wages

SDSM believes that Mickoski’s claims of a “third-ranked economy in Europe” do not match the data from the Public Revenue Office, according to which more than 73% of citizens earn wages below the average. According to the party, instead of being Europe’s third-ranked economy, the reality is that 73% of citizens are paid below average, while the government is allegedly exploiting citizens in a hostile manner.

According to SDSM, 50% of employees earn between 24,000 and 36,000 denars per month.

The statement says that after two years of rule by Mickoski and VMRO-DPMNE, living standards have suffered a complete decline. SDSM claims that citizens have become poorer, wages remain among the lowest in Europe, and living conditions are significantly worse compared with two years ago.

The party points out that the minimum trade union basket has reached around 70,000 denars. According to SDSM, this means that half of employees do not even have two salaries sufficient to cover a family’s basic needs. SDSM considers this to be the real picture behind Mickoski’s statements about economic success, saying that most workers are barely able to make ends meet.

According to the statement, the cost of living has risen significantly, while wages are not keeping pace with increasing prices. Food, the response says, is becoming a luxury and bills are continuously rising. SDSM claims that the halt in wage growth and Mickoski’s government’s refusal to raise the minimum wage to 600 euros are pushing workers and their families towards poverty.

According to SDSM, the crisis is not easing, while rising fuel prices represent another blow to household budgets. The party warns that this will lead to further increases in the prices of food, transport and other basic products. While citizens are becoming poorer, SDSM alleges that only Mickoski and VMRO-DPMNE are benefiting financially, enriching themselves at their expense through criminal tenders.