Thousands of public sector employees in North Macedonia, including those in Culture, the Ministry of Economy, Social Work Centers, the Market Inspectorate, and the Labor Inspectorate, have not received their salaries weeks after the legal deadline. SDSM Vice President Kristina Kostova has criticized the government for the delays.

Kostova stated that this situation isn’t a mere administrative oversight but a display of incompetence and a direct violation of workers’ legal rights. She emphasized the need for accountability and called for the Labor Inspectorate to conduct an immediate inspection of the Ministry of Economy and Labor. She urged the filing of criminal charges against the responsible minister, similar to actions taken against other employers for unpaid wages.

According to Kostova, the government is also delaying the harmonization of salaries and failing to adhere to collective agreements across numerous institutions. She pointed out that around 60,000 public sector employees were expected to receive a 12.6% salary increase in March, as per the General Collective Agreement. However, with rising prices and bills, the government is allegedly refusing to increase salaries in various sectors and has yet to raise the minimum wage to 500 euros.

SDSM is demanding the immediate payment of all outstanding salaries, accountability for the delays and non-compliance with legal obligations, and a commitment to increasing the minimum and average wage in line with the rising cost of living.