SDSM warns of higher electricity and heating prices: families expected to face higher costs from January

SDSM says citizens may face another wave of price increases through higher electricity and heating bills starting in the New Year.

According to the party, MEPSO has requested an increase in the electricity transmission tariff from January 2027. At the same time, another increase in heating prices has also been announced, which would be the third this year.

SDSM emphasizes that living costs have risen by 4,000 denars since January.

In October, the total consumer basket exceeded 70,000 denars, while together with rent, the amount rose above 90,000 denars.

The party estimates that even three salaries are not enough to cover basic living expenses.

“Workers in Macedonia are barely getting by, while their wages remain among the lowest in Europe,” SDSM said.

Of a total of 540,000 employees, around 180,000 earn less than 31,200 denars per month. The minimum wage remains 26,000 denars, while 33% of employees in Macedonia have incomes below the poverty line.

SDSM says citizens are living in difficult conditions: they work and struggle to cover their expenses, but are becoming increasingly impoverished.

“Mickoski brought them to this situation. He refused to raise the minimum wage to 600 euros and rejected every SDSM measure that would have helped citizens cope with the price shocks,” the statement said.

The party accuses Mickoski of considering the importation of economic workers as a low-cost labor force instead of raising wages. Nikolovski mentioned 50,000 economic workers, while Mickoski increased that figure to more than 100,000.

“The new budget revision also lacks an increase in the minimum wage, lacks the 600 euros for workers, and contains no measures or assistance for farmers,” SDSM said./Telegrafi/