CONFERENCE ON MINIMUM WAGES
03/02/2012
It is necessary to quantify the effects and locate negativities to fill the gaps, but the legal basis of regulating the minimum wage is a step forward in the economic and social life in Macedonia.
This is the general conclusion of today's conference "Minimum wage and Decent Jobs in Macedonia", held today at the Skopje Fair. Conference was supported by EU and organized by FES Skopje, International Centre Olof Palme, Solidarity and Progress Institute for Social Democracy.
At the first panel discussion, "Will minimum wage provide decent life in Macedonia?" Almost all speakers supported the statutory regulation of minimum wage.
Dragan Tevdovski of Faculty of Economy at the University "St. Cyril and Methodius" said it will have both positive and negative consequences. There are two key issues – explanations by the professional literature and if the minimum wage would provide decent life.
CCM is still not satisfied with the amount of the minimum wage, but for us it is important that we, together with other trade union organizations, employers and Government adopted a special law, which is the first step. The second step is collective agreements. Within six months Collective agreements should be modified according to the law explained Ljiljana Jankulovska, CCM.
Second panel discussion was "What are the working conditions in Macedonia?" with contributions by representatives of the Union of Independent and Autonomous Trade Unions of Macedonia, OHS Association, Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia and the Organization of Employers of Macedonia.