The Government, the employers and the trade unions, at the session of the Economic and Social Council, held on October 1, have agreed upon the minimum wage, which is set at the value of 8,050 denars in net  i.e. 12,265 denars in gross amount.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has stated that setting the amount of the minimum wage will reduce the poverty and improve the standard of living of the citizens, but this decision will not have consequences on the economy .. “We agree on this decision- said Dimitar Stojanovski , the president of the Organization of Employers of Macedonia, taking into account that in the branch collective agreement provided for the leather industry the lowest salary is set to 4,800 denars and in the textile industry – 5,500 denars,”. By this agreement the employers make a consensus because they are sure the minimum salary will be paid to an established real employee’s performance, whereas the entry into force of the law on the minimum wage for both of the labor-intensive branches will be delayed for a period of 3 years. The Minimum Wage Law will be passed by the end of the year and will enter into force in 2012.