Macedonian business union proposes hourly wages over holiday cuts

The Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Macedonia has rejected a proposal to reduce public holidays. Instead, the organization suggests focusing on increasing productivity through labor market reforms.

Goran Gjorgjievski, head of the Union, proposed discussing an hourly wage model similar to those used in developed market economies, including parts of Europe and the United States. He stated that this model would favor productive workers by allowing them to earn more while providing greater flexibility. Such flexibility could specifically benefit parents and mothers by allowing them to adjust working hours to meet family obligations.

The Macedonian government has indicated that hourly payment is one of the options being considered, noting the need to examine experiences from more developed nations to improve productivity in both the public and private sectors.