News
10/18/2022 08:42
At today's explanatory screening meeting for Chapter 19, "Employment and social policy", the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European affairs, Bojan Maricik, said in his introductory speech that a fair distribution of funds is the basic starting point for the social policy of North Macedonia and the EU and that the Government remains committed to creating equal opportunities for all and strengthening social dialogue.
In the field of employment and social policy, he said that the country continuously complies with the relevant EU legislation and institutional capacities, which is confirmed in the last annual report of the European Commission.
- We are preparing a new Law on Labour Relations that is in line with the relevant EU legislation and the conventions of the International Labour Organization, Maricik announced, adding that amendments and additions to the Law on Employment and Unemployment Insurance are being prepared, for the introduction of a guarantee mechanism for the protection of the rights of employees in cases of insolvency of employers, according to the relevant EU directive (2008/94/EC).
The main negotiator with the Union, Maricik emphasized that North Macedonia has increased social assistance benefits and continued with the implementation of mitigation measures to deal with the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his address, he referred to the latest measures and a positive step taken by the Government to protect and improve the standard of living of citizens, as well as reduce inequality, with the increase of the minimum wage, from which 17% of the workforce have a direct benefit.
By the end of this week, four more explanatory screening meetings will be held on Chapter 20, "Enterprise and Industrial Policy", Chapter 29, "Customs Union", Chapter 16, "Taxation" and Chapter 25, "Science and Research". This will complete the explanatory screening for Cluster 3, "Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth".