site.btaSituation with Skopje’s Waste Is Returning to Normal

A large part of the uncollected waste in Skopje has already been removed, and work at Skopje’s waste collection utility is back to normal schedule. Following a three-day protests, on Monday afternoon garbage trucks started collecting waste in view of another outlook for high temperatures.

Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski criticized the protests because of the risk of environmental catastrophe because of the high temperatures and the uncollected waste. 

He specified that documents are expected from the Environment Inspectorate and if it turns out that there are grounds to press charges against everyone who helped this happen, this will be done.

„If there is data that people who are employed by the waste collection company have received pay but they did not show up for work and there is misuse of budget funds, they will be held accountable. An end should be put to making politics at the expense and people and their health,” said Spasovski on Tuesday.

The protests of workers at Skopje’s waste collection utility began on Friday with demands for higher pay, better working conditions and reinstatement of dismissed workers. However, the utility’s director said that tensions flared when the schedule for the night shift was prepared where for years the same people have worked who do not show up for work but receive higher wages by 35%.

Skopje Mayor Danela Arsovska said that 30-43 people of one family are employed at the utility but some have lived for years in Germany and Switzerland.