Commission of Independent Trade Unions: Monthly wages of Algerians not enough for 30 days: Government should increase salaries

A report by the Commission of Independent Trade Unions shows that the volume of purchasing power of Algerian citizens had fallen from 60% in just two years, since the decision of raising the wages in 2008, to 100% in the beginning of 2011, while in 2010, there was a rise in the prices of some food products to 30%.

 During the first week of the current year the rise in food prices reached 70%, while the monthly wage is not enough in this case, because it only allowed the Algerians of middle class to live ten days and only five days for citizens who receive low-income.

According to a statement by Idir Achour, in charge of the study at the Commission of Independent Trade Unions, there has been a significant decrease in the purchasing power of citizens in spite of rising wages and system of grants and allowances approved by government in various sectors.

Same spokesman attributed the reasons for the decline in the purchasing power to the substantial rise in the prices of various food products, in addition to increasing the wages of a class of workers at the expense of others, and significant delays in the system of grants and compensations which is not yet released until now.

The spokesman added that these is a need to raise the wages of workers from 45.000 dinars to 58.000 dinars, in order to help Algerians fulfill their needs and increase the purchasing power in light of the rise of various foodstuffs’  prices. He asserted that the recent measures of the Special Meeting held at the Ministerial Council; work only for the benefit of money earners and not all citizens, while the high prices will continue as long as the government is not able to control the market until now.

In a related context, the spokesman added that trade unions ask for a flexible policy with the prices, and a policy that enable Algerians to get paid ,especially as employment currently exceeds 25%.