SDSM: Levica did not vote for €600 minimum wage
SDSM says only its coalition and one independent MP backed the proposal; several parties abstained or were absent from the vote.
The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) accused the opposition party Levica and parts of the parliamentary majority of boycotting a proposal to raise the statutory minimum wage to €600 in the Assembly.
Party statement and voting record
SDSM said in a party statement that during the roll-call vote only deputies from its coalition and MP Mile Cekov supported the draft law, while deputies from VMRO-DPMNE, ZNAM and VLEN refused to back the measure and deputies from DUI were not present in the plenary hall.
In the same statement SDSM criticized Levica’s absence on what it described as an important day for workers and published a photograph of the Assembly monitor showing the detailed voting results.
Commenting on the absence, SDSM wrote: "On the World Day for Decent Work, Levica once again confirmed that it is only a satellite of Mickoski and a party on remote control. They publicly present themselves falsely as defenders of workers, and when a decision must be made about their salaries, they leave them at the door."
SDSM added that "workers do not live on slogans, they do not pay their bills with statements and they do not fill their refrigerators with political performances," and pledged to continue campaigning for a higher minimum wage and protection of labor rights.
The party also noted that this was the third time SDSM had submitted a draft law proposing a minimum wage of €600.
Photo: press material from the event
