Minister of Economy and Labor Besar Durmishi said the government and the ministry he heads are ready to engage in dialogue with social partners on revising the minimum wage formula, how it is calculated in relation to the average wage, and new collective agreements.

According to him, every decision must be based on real economic indicators. Durmishi announced that the minimum wage level and the current calculation formula will soon be discussed with social partners within the Economic and Social Council.

“At one of the Economic and Social Council meetings this year, this issue will certainly be put on the table for discussion. Let us agree on the collective agreement. There are certain institutions where a department head receives a higher salary than a minister, or more than someone else who works much harder. When we review these demands, they clash with one another. Let us sit down and change the formula for calculating the minimum wage,” Durmishi said.

The minister was responding to warnings of union pressure over the minimum wage, ahead of the regular legal adjustment expected to take place in March next year.

During his statement, Durmishi also spoke about the implementation of the measures set out in the reform agenda. He said the Ministry of Economy and Labor has so far completed five key steps, for which the country is expected to receive around €20 million from the European Union once official confirmation is obtained.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia is demanding that the minimum wage reach €600. The opposition party SDSM has made the same demand, announcing that it will submit a new legislative proposal on the minimum wage.

The formula currently in force sets the minimum wage based on 50 percent of the cost of living and 50 percent of the increase in the average wage. Of the approximately 750,000 people employed in the country, around 30,000 receive the minimum wage.

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The Ministry of Economy and Labor says that, under the current circumstances, there is no need to introduce further measures to limit food prices. The position comes after the State Statistical Office reported that annual inflation in July stood at 2.3 percent, while monthly inflation was 0.1 percent.

According to the ministry, official data show that prices are moving steadily. In the food category, meanwhile, a decline was recorded for the second consecutive month.

“At present, official indicators do not signal the need to introduce new intervention measures, as price movements are stable, while in the most important category—food—prices have already fallen for the second consecutive month,” the ministry said.

According to the ministry, the rise in the cost of living during July was mainly linked to seasonal factors. This was particularly evident in transport, where an increase of 4.4 percent was recorded, as well as in the recreation, sports and culture category.

The ministry said that market developments are being closely monitored and that appropriate measures will be taken if unjustified price increases or market disruptions emerge.

Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Koçoska described the continuation of the downward trend in inflation as a positive signal for the economy. She also emphasized that increases are being recorded in exports, industrial production, employment and tax revenues in the Budget.

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