Skopje, 14 January 2025 (MIA) - At a press conference Tuesday, government spokesperson Marija Miteva said the strike staged by the Trade Union of Administration, Judiciary and Citizens' Associations (UPOZ) does not meet legal requirements and voiced suspicions that it is politically motivated.

“All strikes should be organized in accordance with the Law on Labor Relations and the collective agreements. It should be announced in line with the Law, a reconciliation process should be implemented since it is mandatory, and the necessary duties that must be carried out should be determined. The fact that not a single of the existing legal conditions has been met speaks of the illegality of the strike and raises serious doubts that it is politically motivated,” Miteva said.

Miteva said numerous mechanisms exist through which the issue could be raised, stressing that the Union “should have and could have” raised the issue at the Economic and Social Council.

“It is interesting that it seems like the Union was silent about the issue the past years, and we regretfully have to state that we openly suspect there is political background behind this step by the Union, which is acting as an extension of the parties who, until now, unfortunately abused the rights of workers. As a Government we are looking at things realistically, and we aren’t happy with the wages in the public administration, but I will reiterate that dialogue is the proper path to solutions,” Miteva said.

Asked about the possibility of raising wages by 30 percent, as demanded by the Union, Miteva said the Government is always open to dialogue.

Workers from several ministries, the State Statistical Office, the State Archive, and the Bureau of Metrology held a warning protest Tuesday demanding the signing of collective agreements and a pay rise of 30 percent. At the protest, union representatives noted this is a long-standing issue they have highlighted at numerous protests and strikes over the years.

The protests are expected to continue and take place every day from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with a protest set to be held in front of the Ministry of Finance on Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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