Whoever arrives starts to get a cut in the consumer basket. The current turmoil between the trade unionists and Prime Minister Mickoski, on the topic of whether it is necessary to include cherries in it, which are already included there as seasonal fruit, a pack of cigarettes or a can of Nescafe (imagine, what a luxury in the 21st century), has caused a deja vu situation like the one from 14 years ago, when the State Statistical Office gave up on such calculations. And then, as now, an avalanche of accusations and comments has fallen on the most relevant institution for measurement that their data is irrelevant and that there is no way that they could cost that much for the needs of a four-member family. Precisely for these reasons, statisticians have announced that they will no longer calculate the basket.
"Starting in 2011, the State Statistical Office stopped calculating the consumer basket according to the previous criteria in order to follow the EU recommendations in order to harmonize our statistical system with that of the EU countries. To this end, in 2010, the State Statistical Office conducted the first survey on income and living conditions, which is fully harmonized according to the recommendations of Eurostat. This survey, among other things, will also be a source for calculating internationally comparable data on the standard of living in the Republic of Macedonia," the SSO announced at the time.
Since then, the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia has taken over the reins, which began to make its own calculation based on the actual costs of a household. Once a month, citizens were informed about the trend of price increases. Last year, the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia hired two former finance ministers, now professors – Dragan Tevdovski and Nikola Popovski – to “measure” the real value of the minimum consumer basket, which was calculated with the same parameters as in 2010. The new methodology was unveiled before the end of 2023 and showed what it means if a family of four has a loan, pays rent, etc., as well as what their real food needs are. The calculation took into account travel costs for transportation of both parents, internet services, annual vacation in the country, medications, one ticket per month to the cinema or theater, money for new cheap shoes, making the updated basket at least 10 percent more expensive than the previous one. And with those calculated expenses, a family of four will barely make it through the month, on muscle.
But it seems that this basket is also becoming a thorn in the side of the current government. Confirmation of this is the statements that citizens needed less money to survive (?!) Now new heroes are being sought, who will most likely make winter, autumn, summer and spring consumer baskets, depending on the season. In the middle of summer – yellow quince, in the middle of winter – watermelon, from what Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski did not try in January.
Whatever they "stick" in it, one thing is clear - the average union minimum basket costs as much as an official's salary. With which one can live well. That is why there is no information that any official has left the country. Workers, unfortunately, leave every day irretrievably. But it seems that this is not a concern of the government, which constantly highlights the problem of emigration and the shortage of labor.
Citizens are confused, but everything has its own purpose – not to talk about increasing salaries in the public and private sectors. That is why the words that the public is now dealing with are Mickoski's cherries. Who, for shame, has not tried either Nescafe or watermelon. About quince – he did not say!