Prices continue to rise, wages do not follow the expensive pace, while the financial burden on households gets heavier and heavier. That is how the Social Democrat League of Macedonia describes the economic situation, which accuses Prime Minister Hristian Mickoski’s government of not taking measures to protect the citizens’ living standards.
According to the opposition, one family’s monthly expenses have reached levels that cannot be covered with even three minimum salaries, while new expenses are warned by January.
In its statement, the LSDM stresses that almost every month of this year has been associated with new price hikes, making it difficult to meet the basic needs of citizens. Since the beginning of the year, living expenses have increased to 4,000 denars.
The minimum union basket for October exceeds 70,000 denars, while the rent includes almost 90,000 denars. Even three minimum wages do not cover the basic expenses of a family, says the LSDM response.
From this party claim that around 180 thousand workers in the country receive monthly salaries lower than 31,200 denars, while the minimum wage continues to remain at the level of about 26 thousand denarius.
The worker works throughout the month, but his salary is not enough for him to live. This is the reality behind Mickoski’s tales: not the third economy in Europe, but the standard of living as much as a third of that European one, the LSDM stress.
The opposition party accuses Prime Minister Mickoski of rejecting its proposals for meeting the price crisis, including the rise of minimum wage to 600 euros and financial support for farmers. According to LSDM, the government has stood passively in the face of a steady increase in the cost of living, without providing enough measures to protect the citizens’ purchasing power.
Mikeoski rejected the LSDM measures to protect the living standard from the beginning of the crisis. He rejected the 600-euro minimum wage and support for farmers. Throughout the year, you see prices rise, while refusing to help citizens, it is said in the statement.
The LSDM also criticises the new budget rebalancing, claiming it does not envision concrete measures for increasing the minimum wage, easing expenses or supporting the agricultural sector. According to this party, instead of policies that would directly assist citizens, the government is continuing with borrowing and financial obligations that will burden the next generations.
Even with the new rebalancing again, there is no higher minimum wage, no measures against expenses, no assistance to farmers. There are new debts and high interests whose bill will be paid to citizens and future generations, the LSDM notes. The opposition party claims that during the two years of Mickoski government, the debt has increased for four billion euros, which, according to it, represents approximately half of the country’s previous total debt. Borgi on debt, rebalancing after rebalancing, and for the people there is no money. Citizens live increasingly difficult, says the response.
In the end, the LSDM links worsening living standards with government economic policies, accusing him of giving party interests priority instead of the needs of workers and citizens.
This poverty is the result of Mickoski’s decisions: no money for workers, but only for party tenders, the LSDM’s statement concludes.
