Macedonian businesses damaged by Greek border blockades

10.10.2011 by janmalte.

Macedonian businesses damaged by Greek border blockades

10/10/2011

Frequent strikes and disruptions next door have pressed Macedonian firms to consider alternative trade routes.

By Biljana Lajmanovska for Southeast European Times in Skopje — 10/10/11

Last month’s protests by Greek customs officers halted freight traffic.

The on-and-off blockade of the Greece-Macedonia border by Greeks dissatisfied with the political-economic situation in their country is causing significant losses for Macedonian entrepreneurs.

Last month, the Greek customs officers went on strike three times, causing a complete stop of cargo traffic. Nearly 80% of the trucks lining up on both sides of the border bear Macedonian registration plates.

Macedonian transport companies estimate their losses at close to 2.5m euros in the last quarter. Virtually all companies are forced to factor in such risks and postpone orders in advance at news of border closings.

“We have been practically facing a silent strike the entire summer. The Greeks simply do not want to work and let only one line for trucks, although the number of trucks coming from Macedonia is huge,” Independent Unions and Transporters Association representative Biljana Muratovska told SETimes.

She explained that even when the Greeks are not striking, the wait time is between 12 and 14 hours, resulting in truck lines tens of kilometers long.

But it is the Macedonian industrial giants — MitalSteel, Makstil, Feni, Usje and others — that suffer the greatest losses, because their production is tied to imports of materials transported through Greece.

Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Peshevski cautioned that Macedonia will issue a protest note to Greece because of the damages inflicted on its companies.

Meanwhile, foreign affairs ministry officials say their diplomats in Greece spend considerable time and resources defending Macedonian business interests.

“As much as 90% of the Macedonian consular office’s work concerns solving problems that our businessmen face at the Greek border and on Greek territory,” ministry spokesperson Borche Stamov told SETimes.

Macedonia sets minimum wage

05/10/2011

Workers in Macedonia must be paid at least 130 euros per month. Also in business news: Finnish telecom giant Nokia will close one of its Romanian plants.

Workers in Macedonia now have a minimum wage.

For the first time, labour unions, employers and the Macedonian government agreed to set a minimum wage in the country. Under the deal, announced by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski on Saturday (October 1st), workers must be paid at least 130 euros monthly. The agreement will increase the incomes of about 65,000 workers whose pay is not up to this standard. The law on the minimum wage is due to enter into force in 2012.

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