site.btaTrade Unions Block Parliament's Building in Skopje, Demanding Wage Increases
The Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of North Macedonia blocked the entrances to the country’s Parliament in Skopje on Tuesday morning in protest, demanding an increase in the minimum wage to EUR 600, as well as a EUR 100 increase for all other wages.
The protest is being held over a draft legislation on raising the minimum wage that has been proposed but has not yet been adopted by lawmakers. Trade unions had earlier warned that they would block the streets around the legislature so that MPs would not be able to enter the building by car, forcing them instead to personally explain to protesters why they are not adopting the proposals to raise the minimum wage.
“As we promised them, today we are blocking two locations with 21 people each (the approaches to Parliament's parking area), so that they cannot reach their own vehicles to go to work, cannot claim transport expenses, and have to come on foot or by public transport. According to my information, a large number of MPs got up early this morning to come to work before 9 a.m. so as not to face the workers in the streets,” said Slobodan Trendafilov, President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia.
The trade unions organized a large protest in Skopje at the end of last week, calling for wage increases and announcing upcoming blockades of institutions. In addition to blocking Parliament on Tuesday, they plan on blocking the buildings of employers’ organizations on Thursday, and next week they are also considering blocking the Government's building.
/RD/
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