Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - North Macedonia (Ratification: 2005)

Article 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Government reports that the Economic and Social Council (ESC) holds a session related to the participation of a tripartite delegation of the Republic of North Macedonia at the International Labour Conference (ILC) once a year. The Committee notes with interest that, in 2023, 31 instruments were submitted to the Parliament as well as to the ESC, which according to Article 2 of the Agreement for the Establishment of the ESC, may examine and propose ratification of international labour standards in line with the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that, further to the proposal of the Union of the Trade Unions of Macedonia and following a recommendation of the ESC, the Government ratified the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). In addition, further to the proposal put forward by the Union of the Trade Unions of Macedonia, in December 2021, for the ratification of the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167), the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) and the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184), the ESC validated, in April 2022, the findings of the gap analyses between the national legislation and these three Conventions and, in 2023, recommended the ratification of Conventions Nos 167 and 176. The Government also indicates that the report was communicated to the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia and the Organization of Employers of Macedonia. The Committee takes due note of the information provided and requests the Government to provide complementary information as regards the following points: (i) whether the session of the ESC prior to each session of the ILC also related to government replies to questionnaires concerning items on the agenda of the International Labour Conference and government comments on proposed texts to be discussed by the Conference, as per Article 5(1)(a) of the Convention; and (ii) indicate the measures taken to give effect to Article 5(1)(d) – questions arising out of reports under article 22 of the Constitution of the ILO; and, if applicable, subparagraph (e) – potential proposals for denunciation of ratified Conventions. It also requests the Government to provide updated information on any ratification prospects for Conventions Nos 167, 176 and 184 following the validation of the respective gap analyses by the ESC and the decision to recommend the ratification.

Article 4 of the Convention. Administrative support and training. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that six training sessions were held for the members of the permanent commissions of the ESC in the period from 2019 to 2021. It also indicates that these sessions concerned: (i) establishing systems for skills assessments; (ii) formalizing informality through dialogue; (iii) developing targets and indicators for the labour market and poverty; (iv) practicing collective bargaining and building consensus in times of crisis; (v) defining and coordinating employment policies; and (vi) conversing and preparing for the new “Youth Guarantee” cycle. The Committee nevertheless notes that the Government does not provide information on the nature and impact of the amendments made to the ESC’s Rules of Procedure in 2015 to the effect of expanding its institutional framework and technical functioning. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on appropriate arrangements made for the financing of any necessary training for participants in consultation procedures, as provided for by the Convention. It further requests the Government to provide updated information on the nature and impact of the amendments made to the ESC’s Rules of Procedure.

Tripartism and social dialogue. The Government indicates that the ESC held 33 sessions in the period from 2018 to 2021. It reports that tripartite consultations related mostly to discussions on the development of measures to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It indicates that an extensive review of national legislation and strategic documents was carried out, which resulted, inter alia, in the revision of the Law on Labour Relations, the development of National Employment Strategy for 2021–27, and the establishment of operational plans for programmes and measures related to employment and labour market services for the years 2020 and 2021. The Government also informs that, since April 2019, the ministries regularly submit all materials relating to economic and social issues to the ESC for an opinion. Furthermore, the Government indicates that in 2021 the ESC secretariat analysed the inclusiveness and effectiveness of the ESC, by applying ILO self-assessment methodology for social dialogue institutions, and developed a new action plan which awaits confirmation. Lastly, with regard to the Committee’s previous request concerning the implementation and impact of the measures adopted under the action plans to promote social dialogue and collective bargaining, the Government indicates that no special analyses were undertaken in this regard. The Committee encourages the Government to continue providing updated information in its next report on the implementation and impact of the measures adopted under the action plans to promote social dialogue and collective bargaining, and to communicate copies of the relevant action plans.