Last year, we introduced the concept of a regional minimum living wage in Europe, which we developed as part of the international Clean Clothes Campaign network. Our goal was to present the real cost of living in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe and to point out the huge gap between the official minimum wage in this region, which is the reality for a large part of workers, and the real cost of living.
And the difference is huge. Minimum wages in this part of Europe on average cover only a quarter of the living wage, that is, only a quarter of what is needed to meet the basic living and social needs of workers and their families.
We have now updated the data. According to the new calculation made with available data for 2021, the living wage in Macedonia in 2021 was 52,000 denars. This also means that the coverage of the living wage by the minimum wage is slightly higher and amounts to 29%. However, rising inflation, if the minimum labor price is not significantly increased, will again move the minimum wage away from the daily wage.
Despite the fact that the living wage is recognized in many international documents, such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Social Charter, many workers across Europe and the world do not earn anywhere near what is needed to meet basic living needs. .
A living wage is a basic human right. The calculation of a living wage is based on objective living costs and tells us what the minimum amount of earnings is that would allow workers and their families to live a basic decent life. It must always be sufficient to cover basic needs including food, clothing, housing, public transport, utilities and telecommunications, education, leisure and culture, adequate health care, hygiene and holiday expenses (a one-week trip within the country). The living wage also includes discretionary income for unforeseen expenses amounting to 10% of the total salary. It is paid for work performed during regular working hours, i.e. excluding overtime.
It is time for companies, which make huge profits from their work, to take responsibility and enable their employees to escape the poverty into which the prevailing business model constantly pushes them.
Following the positive example of our colleagues from the Center for Political Emancipation in the Republic of Serbia, who have recently called on associations and unions to sign the The Living Wage Declaration , A loud textile artist during the "“Textiliada 6„"will call on associations and unions to jointly advocate for a living wage in Macedonia.".
