Workers protest in Skopje

IMf News, 25 February 2000

The IMF-affiliated metalworkers in Macedonia are planning a major demonstration of their discontent.

MACEDONIA: The Trade Union of Metal & Energy Workers and Miners of Macedonia (SMER) is organising, together with all branch unions of Macedonia's National Confederation of Unions, a general protest march in Skopje on February 29. Workers and their trade unions are demanding:

• respect for workers' rights in labour legislation modifications;
• honouring terms in collective agreements;
• a reduction in the high unemployment rate;
• creation of new jobs;
• regular payment of social security and pensions;
• a secure retirement system;
• respect for legislation in the privatisation process;
• full implementation of ILO conventions.

Changes have been announced for Macedonia's law covering retirement insurance, as well as modifications in labour law, which are seen as an effort to weaken the trade unions. Presently, wages are paid very irregularly, often with delays of several months, and social security payments are delayed in some cases for several years.