Skopje, 5 May 2023 (MIA) — The government is introducing working hours of 137 years ago, letting workers to be inhumanely exploited for 72 hours a week, which is a global precedent and a direct attack on workers' health and safety, according to the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, the Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the Confederation of Trade Union Organizations of Macedonia, and the Union of Independent and Autonomous Trade Unions of Macedonia in a joint press release condemning the government's decision to fast-track the amendments related to Corridors 8 and 10d by marking the proposed laws with a European flag.

The unions say this is the darkest day for the country's workers and add they will defend the right to a 40-hour work week.

"As the largest trade union hubs in Macedonia, uniting together more than 150,000 workers in Macedonia, we strongly condemn the government's decision to use the European flag fast-track procedure to introduce non-European values in Macedonia, without any discussion with social partners or their consent," the release says.

"This decision shows that the government does not care about the life and health of the workers but only about its own interests and the interests of its strategic partners whille sacrificing workers and their families," it adds.

The unionists note the European Trade Union Confederation, the International Trade Union Confederation, the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers, and the International Building Organization, which have more than 300 million members, all stand with the Macedonian trade unions.

They add they will "take all steps to protect workers and workers' rights and will fiercely defend the right to a 40-hour work week, 8-hour workday, 8-hour rest and 8-hour family and recreation time."

"Government officials, you have gone too far! Workers unite!," the release says. mr/