Sickness Insurance (Industry) Convention, 1927 (No. 24) - North Macedonia (Ratification: 1991)

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

Article 2(1) and (3) of Conventions Nos 24 and 25. Persons protected. Mandatory coverage of apprentices. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in its report that all insured persons are entitled to sickness benefits. The Committee observes in this regard that apprentices are not included in the list of mandatorily insured persons, contained in section 5 of the Law on Health Insurance. The Committee further observes that section 13 of the same Law does not expressly recognize the right of apprentices to cash benefits for at least the first 26 weeks of incapacity due to sickness. The Committee also notes that the Government does not make specific reference to the legal provisions providing for the mandatory coverage of apprentices. The Committee recalls that Article 2(1) and (3) of the Conventions provide for the compulsory coverage of apprentices, even if through a special scheme with equivalent benefits. The Committee therefore requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that apprentices are covered by compulsory sickness insurance, either by including them in the list contained in section 5 of the Law on Health Insurance or through a special scheme with equivalent benefits.

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

Article 2(1) of the Convention (in conjunction with Article 3). Right of apprentices to cash sickness benefits. Section 13 of the Law on Health Insurance does not expressly recognize the right to apprentices to a cash benefit for at least the first 26 weeks of incapacity due to sickness. The Committee requests the Government to indicate how the national legislation ensures that apprentices benefit from compulsory sickness insurance in accordance with the relevant provisions mentioned above and to provide the relevant normative texts in this respect. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the questions it raises under the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102).