14th June 2023, Skopje – Systemic solution jointly adopted and defined with trade unions’ representatives is the only sustainable solution, which will provide for wage growth of public sector employees. Partial or individual solutions will only hamper the process of reaching a systemic solution, being indispensable for increasing the wages on continuous basis, Minister of Finance, Fatmir Besimi pointed out in a press release, also mentioning the ongoing intensive discussions within the Economic and Social Council therefor, whereby adequate methodology is expected to be mutually determined.
“Within the Economic and Social Council, there are ongoing in-depth discussions with the trade unions’ representatives for seeking a solution, which will imply setting a methodology as a systemic solution, thus protecting the public sector employees and safeguarding their living standards in view of the inflation. Activities are being undertaken on harmonizing and signing General Collective Agreement, which will apply for all public sector employees. There are ongoing negotiations about the entire defined process, which along with the methodology, are expected to be harmonized and completed,” Minister Besimi said in a press release, thereby indicating that the implementation of the agreed solution will undergo a transition period, i.e. a period of adjustment.
Minister stressed that wages of public sector employees were increased this year as well, which growth will also resume in future via the systemic solution, to be jointly determined with the trade unions’ representatives.
He also underlined that having a systemic solution in place is crucial, since it will provide for defining the status and safeguarding the living standard of the employees, thus also boosting the productivity of our economy.
According to the Minister, this solution is systemic as is the solution related to the minimum wage and the pensions. In addition to the discussions about the General Collective Agreement, activities are being undertaken for seeking a legal solution on the public sector wages. All taken actions, as Minister indicated, are geared towards having an efficient and professional public administration in place, being beneficial for both the citizens and the businesses.