Skopje, 20 December 2024 (MIA) - Employees at Skopje’s “Streets and Roads” public enterprise have threatened to impose a complete blockade of the capital if they don’t receive their salaries. At a protest Friday, they said the enterprise’s vehicles have no fuel, while the employees don’t receive regular salaries nor the annual leave allowance they are legally entitled to.

The protest was organized by the enterprise's Independent Trade Union, a member of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (KSOM).

The President of KSOM, Marjan Risteski said the situation at the public enterprise is “critical”, noting that the employees of the enterprise control the traffic lights in the capital and “would prefer not to create total chaos”. 
“Imagine, they’re protesting for their salaries. Not to mention the need for other things, like protective equipment or raises,” Risteski said, urging discussions and highlighting the need for the workers’ salaries to be paid.

The union leader highlighted that the enterprise has received its “fifth or sixth” director since the election of the new mayor of Skopje, Danela Arsovska. 
Nusret Pashalikj, an employee at the enterprise, told journalists that if they aren’t paid their salaries, the workers will take to the streets on Monday and turn off the traffic lights, blocking traffic in the capital. 

“It is very difficult for us to be here asking for the salaries we have earned honestly and the annual leave allowance that we are legally entitled to,” Pashalikj said. 

Trajko Stefanovski, another employee, said they gathered to express their anger over the City of Skopje’s attitude towards the enterprise. 

“We’ve had this issue for months. We don’t have fuel, we don’t have regular salaries, we have loans that we are obliged to repay, however we can’t do that because of the current situation. Employees from all ethnicities are here. Our issue is the [lack of a regular] salary. This issue occurs every month. Additionally, the enterprise’s vehicles are all sitting parked in the garage since we have no fuel. We also have issues with the registration of the vehicles,” Stefanovski said, adding that they would like to meet with the mayor and discuss the issues with the enterprise.

While its workers were protesting, the enterprise published an official statement assessing the protest as “politically motivated” and claiming that employees have received their salaries.

“As expected, due to the arrogance of [Prime Minister Hristijan] Mickoski, the conjuring of crises in all public enterprises continues, with Skopje’s Streets and Roads enterprise being the target this time. Before he continues causing harm to the city’s enterprises and to the City of Skopje, Mickoski should inform the citizens that the employees at the Streets and Roads PE have received their salaries, therefore it is unclear why the union is protesting. Additionally, Mickoski should inform the public that decisions regarding linear increases of salaries and the annual leave allowance are made by the enterprise’s management board whose members are chosen by VMRO-DPMNE,” Skopje’s “Streets and Roads” Public Enterprise said in a press release. 

Photo: MIA