SDSM to push for €600 minimum wage in Parliament in September; August union basket at 84.050 denars

The Confederation of Trade Unions of Macedonia has calculated that the minimum monthly survival basket for August, for a rented 60 m2 apartment, reached 84.050 denars, and warned households are increasingly buying only on discount as living costs rise.

Union breakdown and political response

At its August calculation the Confederation reported that the union basket rose by 177 denars compared with the previous month. The Confederation gave a detailed monthly expenditure breakdown: "For food and beverages monthly costs amount to 25,032 denars, for education 7,192 denars, for clothing and footwear 6,511 denars, for rent, water, electricity and heating 6,370 denars, for transport 5,175 denars, restaurants and hotels 4,131, for communications 3,677, for hygiene 2,692, and for health 1,196 denars."

As food and other everyday costs climb, consumers say they increasingly shop only when items are on sale, and many report managing only to survive without extra work.

On the political front, the opposition Social Democratic Union (SDSM) announced at a press conference that it will again submit a bill to Parliament seeking a minimum wage of 600 euros. The party said it plans to pursue the proposal during September.

The report also notes that while Serbia will raise its minimum wage to 600 euros, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski today reiterated that the economy is the government's main priority and claimed that, as he put it, the country is first or second in the region by economic results.

Photo: press material from the event