Skopje, 1 May 2023 (MIA) — The two largest unions in North Macedonia are holding Workers' Day protest marches to demand higher pay, decent working hours and respect for collective agreements, according to announcements by the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia and the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Macedonia.

Under the slogan "Workers Are the State," the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia will start their protest at noon and march to the government building, which is also where members of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions will protest under the slogan "For Justice, For Equality."

"Increasing government officials' salaries by 78 percent or 2,000 denars per day; introducing a 12-hour working day for a large number of workers; lying to health workers they would increase their salaries; not signing the General Collective Agreement for the public sector that provides every employee with annual leave allowance… are more than reason enough to take to the streets and show our discontent," the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia said.

The May Day protests, according to their announcement, will continue even after May 1.

The unionists' demand for fair working hours followed after the introduction of a 12-hour work day was proposed as part of the package of laws related to the construction of Corridors 8 and 10d currently in parliamentary procedure.

According to the unions, this proposal infringes on the fundamental right to decent working hours that striking workers fought for in the Chicago rally of 1886.

International Workers' Day, or May Day, is observed on May 1 as a public holiday to commemorate the struggles of workers and the eight-hour day movement which on May 1, 1886, gathered 100,000 American workers in Chicago to strike in support of the eight-hour workday.

In the country, International Workers' Day used to be a two-day public holiday (observed on May 1 and 2). Since 2007, it has been observed on May 1 only. mr/