The minimum expenses of a family of four in August increased by 214 denars compared to July. The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia calculates that for the basic monthly needs of a family needs 34.342 denars, and if there is at least one student in the family, then the costs increase by about eight thousand denars.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia told MIA that neither the average nor the two minimum wages are enough to cover the union minimum basket. CCM analyzes show that the cost of living is constantly increasing and wages are stagnating.

Most money, according to the calculations of SSM, is spent on food and beverages (14.633 denars) and payment of overhead costs (10.818 denars). For personal hygiene, the minimum costs are 2.382 denars, and for transportation at least 2.529 denars are needed.

A special burden for the citizens is the beginning of the school year. Minimum for this, according to SSM, would be spent eight thousand denars for only one student.

An increase in the cost of living is also recorded by the State Statistical Office. According to data released in August, vegetables increased by about 15 percent, cheese and cottage cheese by 1,1 percent, meat by 0,9 percent, bread and cereals by 0,7 percent and milk by 0,6 percent. .

- If the increase in the cost of living continues with such intensity, then not even three minimum wages would be enough to reach the growth of the union minimum wage, assessed by SSM and warn that if the minimum wage continues to stagnate or be adjusted without being accepted remarks from the unions, there will be a trend of impoverishment of the population.

For a while, SSM demanded that the minimum wage be at least 60 percent of the average wage, and during the last adjustment in March this year, it asked not to take into account the fall of the Gross Domestic Product as one of the three parameters for the adjustment, but their proposal was not accepted.

 - Due to the increasingly evident increase in prices, it is obvious that we need a living wage with which as workers, without worrying about our existence, we will be able to afford the least cost in the amount of a union consumer basket with only one salary, point out from SSM in the statement for MIA.

The relevant Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, on the other hand, points out that in the past period there has been an increase in salaries in the country. Referring to the official statistical data for July this year, they point out that the net salary has increased by 1.309 denars compared to July last year.

- According to the data of the State Statistical Office, the average monthly net salary for July 2021, which was published in September 2021, was 28.540 denars and was higher by 1.309 denars compared to the same month last year or 4,8 percent. Our expectations are that there will continue to be an increase in wages in the country, which will affect the living standards of citizens, is stated in the answer that MIA received from the Ministry.

Regarding the proposal of CCM not to take into account the negative GDP growth in the harmonization of the minimum wage, the MLSP clarifies that the law sets criteria for correction and that any change in these criteria must be considered within the social dialogue.

- The minimum wage is determined by the Law on Minimum Wage and it is published every year in March and is applied from April. The Law sets out criteria for adjusting the minimum wage. The current legal solution for determining, ie the criteria for its correction are determined with the social partners. Therefore, we believe that any change in the criteria that will affect the minimum wage should be subject to social dialogue between the social partners, states the MLSP.

The minimum wage in the country is 15.194 denars in net amount. A new alignment is expected in March next year. The adjustment takes into account three parameters - one third of the increase in the average wage paid, one third of the increase in the cost of living index and one third of the real GDP growth. 

Source: MIA