Skopje, 17 May 2023 (MIA) – The wages in the public sector have been regulated with over 200 different acts, and I have to admit that someone intentionally wanted not to have a system and a sustainable solution. The solution is to have the same methodology for wages for everyone in the public sector, said the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs, Fatmir Bytyqi on Wednesday.

“Why this has been done you can come to your own conclusion, but my conclusion, as a citizen of this country, is that someone did this intentionally in order not to have a system and a sustainable solution, but rather to have a tool with which they would manipulate the lives of the people in our country. Currently, we are nearing the end of negotiations with the unions over the general collective agreement and the new methodology for wages,” said Bytyqi in answer to a journalist’s question before the beginning of the Macedonian-Finnish business forum organized by the Economic Chamber.

Bytyqi noted that he agrees with the unions that the average wage should serve as the basis for the calculation of wages and that the increased wages should start being paid out as soon as possible.  

“I think that the unions believed that we wouldn’t accept this. We accepted their proposal at the last meeting. Of course, since it was just a proposal without any financial calculations, we said, together, we will define the coefficients of complexity for all jobs in the entire public sector. I believe that we should do this as soon as possible, and try to implement this from this year according to our abilities,” said Bytyqi.

“There can’t be an expectation,” he added, “that we will immediately reach the real goal, which is fully increased wages today, by 50, 60, 70, 80 percent, as the unions believe.”

“On the contrary, this is a period of adjustment that should begin to be applied as soon as possible. Of course, we are all aware of the challenges in our economy, and this is why I believe that the only place where we can agree on this issue is the Economic-Social Council,” said Bytyqi.

According to the Deputy PM, having the same methodology for all public sector wages is the solution.

“This means that the same methodology for wages, created with the unions, would be used to calculate the wages of my compatriot who works at the lowest post and the President of the country. When we do this, our fairness, equality and solidarity will be proven through actions,” said Bytyqi.

Bytyqi said he wants a systemic solution for the issue, similar to the Law on Minimum Wage and the Law on Pensions.

“I think we’ve had enough blackmailing and negotiations in our country over wages and whether the citizens should be paid and how much. We must adopt a systemic solution once and for all. This is the new spirit of creating solutions and policies in our country,” said Bytyqi.

The Deputy PM said that there is opposition to a systemic solution by all stakeholders, because, he said, we aren’t used to systemically solving issues.

“We are used to constantly having something to negotiate or blackmail someone with. Which is why I told the unions we need to solve the issue with wages once and for all, and they should focus on other, more important issues in our country, such as the other rights of the workers, better working conditions, more dignified treatment of workers in every post. There are many other workers’ rights that the unions can fight for, we don’t have to only discuss wages every year,” stressed Bytyqi.

Photo: MIA