Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - North Macedonia (Ratification: 1991)

Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. Consultation with the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention received in September 2010. The Government indicates that the employment situation in the country is unfavourable and is characterized by a relatively low participation rate, low employment rate and high unemployment rate. Due to low economic growth, an inefficient privatization process, structural problems and the existence of a large informal economy, the formal labour market is stagnant with limited opportunities for new entrants. Labour market participation in the country remained very low with a high unemployment rate of 32.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2009 (350,000 persons), affecting to a higher degree young people and the less educated. The Government indicates that in October 2006, the National Employment Strategy (NES) 2010, which contained the medium-term employment strategies for Macedonia, was prepared. The National Action Plan for Employment (NAPE) 2009–10 was adopted as an implementation tool of the NES 2010. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report an evaluation of the effectiveness and relevance of the measures implemented in the framework of the NAPE 2009–10. It also requests the Government to provide details on the involvement of workers’ and employers’ representatives in the development, implementation and review of employment policies and programmes.

Coordination of economic and social policy with poverty reduction. The Government indicates that poverty is a multidimensional problem in the country. A National Strategy for Poverty Reduction (NSPR) was adopted in 2002. The Committee notes that poverty remained at about 19 per cent in 2006 and data showed a successive increase in poverty among the poorest, an amplification of regional differences and a progressive increase of the incidence of poverty on peripheral urban areas. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which its strategy to combat poverty is linked with its employment policy and the impact of the labour market measures adopted on poverty reduction.

Regional development. The Government indicates that economic and social disparities between cities and between regions are evident and differences between urban and rural centres are further increasing. In the last years, the situation in the capital Skopje improved when compared to the rest of the country, while the north-eastern part of the country fell behind other regions. The Committee requests the Government to include in its next report information on the measures taken to address regional imbalances and promote higher employment levels in disadvantaged regions.

Informal economy. The Government indicates that addressing issues related to the informal economy is among the strategic priorities of the NAPE 2009–10. The Law on Labour Relations and the 2006 legislation on temporary employment agencies are expected to encourage a gradual shift in employment from the undeclared to the formal sector. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to enable the transition of the undeclared economy towards the formal labour market.

Women. The Government indicates that one of the main reasons for a high female unemployment rate and low employment rate is the traditional living habits in a part of the country and the traditional role of the woman in the family. The Committee notes that according to the 2009 Labour Force Survey (LFS), the employment rate for women was as low as 29.4 per cent and the unemployment rate was measured at 32.8 per cent. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to increase the employment participation rate of women in the open labour market.

Youth employment. The Committee notes that according to the 2009 LFS, youth unemployment is as high as 55.1 per cent. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures implemented to promote employment opportunities for young persons.

Older workers. The 2009 LFS shows that the employment rate for persons between 55 and 64 years reached 34.6 per cent. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures implemented to increase the participation of older workers in the labour market.

The Roma minority. The Committee recalls its 2009 direct request on the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), noting that approximately 70 per cent of the Roma population were not in formal employment and that due to their low level of education, as well as discrimination faced in the labour market, many of them had great difficulties in finding jobs. The Government indicates that the Operational Programme for 2009 includes a programme to support the employment of Roma people, which grants monetary allowances to both trainees and employers during the training period and provides for an obligation to hire those who have successfully completed training. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to encourage and support labour market participation of the Roma population and other ethnic minority groups.

Education and training. The Government indicates that the range of educational programmes offered does not meet the new demand for modern methods of training and retraining of the active labour force and certification of vocational and professional qualification. The Committee refers to its comments on the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), and invites the Government to include in its next report information on the impact of the measures taken to better coordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

Small and medium-sized enterprises. The Government indicates that in the framework of the national employment policy measures to promote self employment and SMEs include: easing the burden for starting-up businesses, increasing the number of SMEs, promoting financial and non-financial support to entrepreneurs, and encouraging the development of an entrepreneurial culture. The Operational Programme for 2009 includes programmes aimed at supporting formal self-businesses through credit assistance and training. The Committee invites the Government to include information on measures taken to support the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises and their results on stimulating employment.