Skopje, 2 March 2023 (MIA) - Bread will neither be delivered to the markets on Thursday, bakers say. They stand by their decision reached on Monday that there will be no production and delivery.

Representatives of the bakery industry told MIA that they are ready to hold talks with the competent institutions, but only when they receive an official invitation, instead of "calls" or an "appeal" coming from press conferences.

Bakers say that no one should expect to have bread for 20 denars. The price should not have been frozen because, according to them, that goes against the constitutional right to freedom of the market, nor should the subsidized electricity be canceled because the measure has given results. There were bread prices ranging 32 to 35 denars in retail, depending on the quality and weight.

The bakery industry in this new situation expects support from all other industries in the country.

"Our decision remains in effect. Bread will not be delivered to the market today. A positive decision from the Government is awaited regarding the demands of the bakers. Freezing the price goes against the constitutional right to freedom of the market. We expect support from other industries, from everyone, because if this is happening to the bakery industry, it can happen to them too," representatives of the Mill and Bakery Industry Group told MIA. 

The Government decided to freeze the price of white bread that weighs 450 grams at Mden 33. PM Dimitar Kovachevski and the Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi said that the decision will go on until May 31 2023. The reason for this price freeze is the failure to follow the agreement to reduce the prices of basic food items in accordance with the subsidized electricity provided to companies.