SDSM demands price cuts and wage increases

SDSM demands price cuts and wage increases

SDSM MP Jovanka Trenčevska says that North Macedonia is becoming a country where work is not valued, while the dignity of workers is being undermined. According to her, citizens are not receiving any help from the government. She asked the Minister of Economy whether there will be measures to reduce food prices and increase the minimum wage.

“Let’s not be fooled, the slowdown in inflation at the monthly level for August, as the Prime Minister wants to present it, is not an indication that something is improving. The country has one of the highest inflation rates in Europe. The average inflation in the EU is 2.1%, while in our country in August this year it is twice as high, 4.4%. Food products alone have become more expensive by 6.7%, while vegetables and fruits have become more expensive by up to 11% during August. The prices of all products are only increasing”, said Jovanka Trenčevska – SDSM MP.
The Minister of Economy responded, saying that precisely when SDSM was in power, inflation was over 14 percent, while now, according to him, it has been halved and is stable. Regarding the demand for the minimum wage, Durmishi said that it increases in accordance with the law on the minimum wage.

“I want to remind you that when you were in power, in 2022, inflation was 14.2 percent. In 2023 it was 9.4%. These are figures that seriously hampered the family budget of citizens, while today, in 2025 and for this month we are talking about, inflation has been halved and is stable. Then there was a war between Russia and Ukraine, but even now there are conflicts in these areas,” said Besar Durmishi – Minister of Economy.

While the parties are accusing each other, the minimum union basket, which is used to calculate living expenses, has reached 65.507 denars. For food alone, a family of four needs over 24 thousand denars.