Decent Work Programme 2026–2030 sets three priorities, while the union basket stands at 69,432 denars

The government, employers, trade unions and the International Labour Organization (ILO) on October 27 signed the National Decent Work Programme for 2026–2030. Economy and Labour Minister Besar Durmishi said the programme confirms a commitment to better-quality, better-paid and safer jobs. Prime Minister Mickoski, according to Republika, said the goal is a country in which labour is respected, knowledge is valued and work provides a dignified life.

What was signed. The programme has three priority areas. The first is the business environment: aligning labour law and occupational safety and health rules, social dialogue, collective bargaining and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. The second is skills: vocational education, training and lifelong learning. The third is women’s economic empowerment. It was drafted through tripartite consultations and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2026–2030, and it links labour market reforms to the European path.

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The unions’ figures. According to the Confederation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, the union consumer basket reached 69,432 denars in September 2026. That is 4,355 denars more than in September 2025 and 8,126 denars more than in September 2024. The 2026 minimum wage is 26,046 denars. For a family renting a 60-square-metre flat, the unions calculated the basket at 84,807 denars.

Our calculation. The basket is about 2.7 times the minimum wage. Two minimum wages come to 52,092 denars, which is 17,340 denars less than the basket. Three minimum wages come to 78,138 denars and cover the basic basket, but not the basket with rent of 84,807 denars. These are calculations based on the unions’ figures, not an official government indicator.

What the previous programme had. The previous programme, signed on July 4, 2023 for 2023–2025, named more and better jobs, especially for young people, an inclusive labour market through social dialogue, higher productivity and wages, the fight against discrimination, and preventing violence and harassment at work as priorities. The new programme partly repeats the same themes, as Racin also notes.

What the programme is not. It is a framework for cooperation and reform, not an automatic wage increase or a change to workers’ rights. The minister mentioned reducing the informal economy and greater inclusion of young people and women, but the published reports have no figures on the informal economy or on emigration. Racin calls for deadlines, measurable indicators, public reporting of results and a public evaluation of the previous cycle.

How to follow it. The programme’s value will depend on which labour law amendments pass, how effective labour inspection is and whether the measures are carried out. Until then, the basket, the minimum wage and the gap between them are the most direct indicator for tracking whether decent work turns into a decent life.

MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 28, 2026