Average wage movement sparks new exchange of accusations between SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE

A fresh dispute over the movement of the country’s average wage has erupted between the opposition Social Democratic Union (SDSM) and the ruling VMRO-DPMNE, after new figures from the State Statistical Office showed a month-on-month dip.

Parties deploy competing number sets and political barbs

SDSM pointed to the State Statistical Office calculations and accused the government and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of presenting what they called upbeat, misleading accounts of income growth while the average net wage actually fell.

In a written statement SDSM said: "The State Statistical Office announced that in only one month the average wage decreased by 1 163 denars, that is, by 2.3 percent. For the decline in citizens' living standards they don't need statistics, they see it at home, in empty refrigerators and in empty wallets. The average wage for one month fell by 1 163 denars, the minimum wage of 26 000 denars is not enough for even one third of the consumer basket which has risen to 70 000 denars."

The opposition also blamed high inflation for eroding household budgets and mocked government rhetoric about the country becoming "the third economy in Europe." SDSM added: "The cheerful math of Mickoski cannot pay the bill for any family. Lower wages. More expensive life. Empty pockets and empty refrigerators. But let's speak of nice things — a new plane for Mickoski," referring to remarks by Ivica Tomovski, director of the Service for General and Common Affairs, who said the idea to procure a new government aircraft has not been abandoned.

VMRO-DPMNE replied by accusing SDSM and its leader Venko Filipche of scaremongering and playing with citizens' anxieties. The ruling party published a set of historical comparisons intended to show larger wage gains under its current tenure.

VMRO-DPMNE's statement reads: "Here are some numbers that may make it clearer to the SDSM leadership placed by Filipche. In June 2017 the average wage amounted to 22 808 denars, and in May 2024 the average reached 41 252 denars. That is an increase of 18 444 denars over 84 months, which means that the average wage increased by about 220 denars per month on average. In July 2024 the average wage amounted to 40 961 denars. In May 2026 the average wage reached 49 544 denars. That is an increase of 8 583 denars over 23 months of VMRO-DPMNE rule. On average, the average wage increased by about 373 denars per month."

VMRO-DPMNE concluded that, by their calculation, average wages grew roughly 70 percent more during the current period in office than during the years when SDSM and DUI held the executive branch.

According to the State Statistical Office, the average monthly paid net wage per employee in June stood at 48 381 denars, marking a 6.4 percent increase compared with the same month last year. However, when compared with May of this year that June figure is 1 163 denars lower.

Photo: Arhiva