Wages and the minimum basket in which the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia packs the necessary for the survival of a family of four are still at a great discrepancy.
According to the calculations of SSM in November, the basket with food, drinks, bills, housing costs, entertainment, procurement of necessary furniture, clothes, shoes, transportation and healthcare costs 33,742 denars. The guaranteed minimum wage in the country is just under 15,000 denars, which means that in order to meet the minimum needs during the month a family of four with two minimum wages had to borrow about 4,000 denars. Or, to shorten what is considered necessary for existence.
A family that has one average salary, which in October was estimated at 27,899 denars, is missing nearly 6,000 denars, or one hundred euros to meet basic needs.
Most of the expenses of a family of four who live in a 50 square meter apartment and do not own a car, which is taken as a model for the calculations, go to food and beverages. That accounts for nearly 42 percent of the total costs, or 14,149 denars.
