Skopje, 20 October 2024 (MIA) -- Citing reports of business owners and company directors' frequent violations of workers' legally guaranteed right to unionize, the Confederation of Trade Unions told a press conference Sunday that lately there was increasing pressure across the country to stop workers unionizing.

Over 40 employers were reported for pressuring workers not to form unions, going so far as to make them sign notarized statements that they would not unionize.

Business owners were also not willing to sign collective agreements.

Most of these cases were in privately owned companies in construction as well as mineral resources and mining.

If this practice continued, the Confederation of Trade Unions representatives said, protests would be held in front of those companies.

Confederation of Trade Unions leader Marjan Risteski said they would ask for help to solving this problem from the prime minister, as well.

"Apart from devaluing workers, this also devalues the state. This is why we need to raise our voices so workers can finally feel respected in our own country instead of moving abroad," Risteski said. mr/