site.btaTrade Unions Protesting for Pay Raise in Several Sectors Block Skopje Streets

A protest for higher salaries organized by the trade union of the administrative and judicial employees in North Macedonia took place in Skopje on Friday.

Holding banners and signs reading “We demand fair salaries for a decent life" and "European salaries both for you and for us", protesters from the administration of the court and the prosecution service, health workers and employees in the administration of North Macedonia's Ombudsman began their march from the Parliament building, where the country’s draft budget is to be discussed, and proceeded to the Justice Ministry and the Government building.

Representatives of the Independent Healthcare Trade Union protested in front of the Health Ministry, demanding a 30% increase in salaries and a new collective agreement.

Employees in the judicial administration and the prosecution service have been on strike for several months now, demanding salary supplements and a 78% salary increase, which employees with elective positions got following a Constitutional Court ruling that declared their frozen salary base illegal.

According to the trade unions, the negotiations for a pay raise have not yielded results. The Government says they are ongoing.