Skopje, 22 January 2024 (MIA) - The Skopje City Council failed Monday to adopt the decision on subsidizing the public transportation enterprise Skopje (JSP Skopje) for 2024. Twenty-two out of 45 council members voted 'yes', while 13 abstained. The decision was supposed to ensure the payment of the December wages for the JSP employees, who have went on strike and put the city's public transport on hold.

The City of Skopje said after the session that VMRO-DPMNE council members "have again decided to leave citizens without transport and JSP Skopje employees without wages out of spite".

The subsidies amount to EUR 11 million for 2024.

During the discussion, JSP Skopje director Krste Petrevski said if the decision is not endorsed now, people could end up not getting wages until April or May, considering the upcoming elections.

"I urge you to endorse this decision so that people can get back to work and receive their hard-earned wages," said Petrevski.

He added that almost 70 percent of the bus passengers are exempted from payment of tickets, leading to limited revenues for the enterprise.

"Therefore, subsidies have been endorsed by the city council for many years and these funds are spent for the employees' wages," said Petrevski.

Skopje Mayor Danela Arsovska also called on council members to endorse the decision, while refuting claims of partisan employments in JSP.

"The number of employees has been reduced by about 300 people since I assumed office in 2021. Those who failed to show up for work have been laid off and there are no new employments," said Arsovska.

About 400 JSP employees waited for an outcome in front of the City of Skopje premises before and during the Council session.

JSP Union president Mikjo Stojanovski said the buses would continue to operate if the decision was endorsed.