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Macedonia - Compensation & Benefit Legislation

CAPITAL

Skopje

 

CLIMATE

Warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall.

 

LANGUAGES

Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%.

 

LEGAL SYSTEM

Macedonia’s legal system is based on civil law system with judicial review of legislative acts.

 

CURRENCY

Macedonian Denar (1 USD = 68.3366 MKD as of March 15, 2002).

 

MACEDONIA - COST-OF-LIVING

ERI's Relocation Assessor is a recommended source for cost-of-living data.

 

MACEDONIA - EMBASSY/CONSULATES

U.S. Embassy at Skopje

Boulevard Ilinden

1000 Skopje, Macedonia

Telephone: [389] (02) 116-180

Fax: [389] (02) 117-103

E-mail: irc@usembassy.mpt.com.mk

http://usembassy.mpt.com.mk/

 

Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia at Washington D.C.

3050 K Street N.W., Suite 210

Washington D.C. 20007

Telephone: (202) 337-3063

Fax: (202) 337-3093

 

MACEDONIA - HOLIDAYS

 

MACEDONIA – LEAVE

Annual Leave: Minimum 18 days annual leave each year.

 

Maternity Leave: 9 months – 100% of pay (paid by social security).

 

MACEDONIA - MINIMUM AGE

The Constitution sets the minimum age for employment at 15 years. Children legally may not work nights or more than 40 hours per week.

 

(Section 6.d. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Macedonia – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)

 

MACEDONIA - MINIMUM REMUNERATION

The average monthly wage in July 2001, was approximately $155. The minimum wage does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and his family.

 

The minimum wage is by law two-thirds of the average wage; however, an average month's supply of food for a family of four exceeds average incomes by about 20 percent, forcing multiple members of many households to work.

 

(Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Macedonia – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)

 

MACEDONIA - REMUNERATION

ERI's Geographic and Salary Assessors are recommended sources for international remuneration covering 189 countries.

 

MACEDONIA - REPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES (2001, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE)

Section 6 Worker Rights

 

a. The Right of Association

 

The Constitution provides for the right to form trade unions; however, this right is not extended to members of the military, police, and civil service. Independent trade unions have been allowed to organize since 1992, when an Association of Independent and Autonomous Unions was formed, although there is still a national trade union. The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) is the successor organization to the former Communist labor confederation; it is the Government's main negotiating partner on labor issues, along with the Chamber of the Economy. Although its officers tend to oppose strikes, the Federation reportedly is independent of the Government and committed to the interests of the workers it represents. The only other federation of unions is purportedly independent but in practice is closely linked to the ruling VMRO political party. Over 50 percent of the legal workforce is unionized, and unions are particularly strong in the garment industry.

 

During the year, there were a total of 100 to 150 strikes, which included many protest work stoppages of a few hours or less. The reasons for the strikes included demands for overdue pay, workers' objections to government changes in management personnel at some state-owned entities, and objection to various decisions related to privatization. Strikes typically were small and confined to company grounds; however, on May 29 the SSM staged a country-wide protest, with approximately 15,000 protesters who blocked several main roads throughout the country. Most strikes were calm and well organized and took place without serious incident.

 

Unions may affiliate freely with international labor unions and many do so.

 

b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively

 

The Constitution implicitly recognizes employees' right to bargain collectively; however, implementing legislation in this area had not been passed, and the concept of collective bargaining remained in its infancy. Collective bargaining takes place, but in the country's weak economic environment employees have very little practical leverage.

 

The law prohibits antiunion discrimination; however, it exists in practice. Workers at times were fired for participating in union activities, and because of the slow pace of the court system, it at times took 2 to 3 years to legally regain employment.

 

There were no export processing zones (EPZ's); the Government cancelled plans to develop an EPZ with Taiwanese businesses.

 

c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor

 

The law prohibits forced and bonded labor; however, trafficking of women for prostitution and pornography was a growing problem (see Section 6.f.).

 

The law prohibits forced and bonded labor by children; however, trafficking of girls was a problem (see Sections 6.d. and 6.f.).

 

d. Status of Child Labor Practices and Minimum Age for Employment

 

The Constitution sets the minimum age for employment at 15 years. Children legally may not work nights or more than 40 hours per week. The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is responsible for enforcing laws regulating the employment of children; however, the authorities were reluctant to enforce these laws. Reported violations of child labor laws increased during the year; child labor is used in the "gray economy" and illegal small businesses. The country has not ratified ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor.

 

The law prohibits forced or bonded labor by children; however, trafficking in girls for prostitution, pornography, and begging was a problem (see Section 6.f.).

 

e. Acceptable Conditions of Work

 

The average monthly wage in July was approximately $155. The minimum wage does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and his family. The minimum wage is by law two-thirds of the average wage; however, an average month's supply of food for a family of four exceeds average incomes by about 20 percent, forcing multiple members of many households to work. In addition, many persons take on supplemental work, often in the "gray market." The Government Statistics Office estimated that 22.3 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.

 

The country has an official 42-hour workweek with a minimum 24-hour rest period and generous vacation and sick leave benefits. However, high unemployment and the fragile condition of the economy lead many employees to accept work conditions that do not comply with the law. Small retail businesses in particular often require employees to work far beyond the legal limits.

 

The Constitution provides for safe working conditions, temporary disability compensation, and leave benefits. Although there are laws and regulations on worker safety, they are not enforced strictly. The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is responsible for enforcing regulations pertaining to working conditions. Under the law, if workers have safety concerns, employers are obliged to address dangerous situations. Should an employer fail to do so, employees are entitled to leave the dangerous situation without losing their jobs; however, this right is not respected in practice.

 

f. Trafficking in Persons

 

The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking, although traffickers can be prosecuted under other laws; trafficking in women and girls, particularly for prostitution and pornography, was a serious and growing problem. The Ministry of Interior estimated that there are approximately 2,000 victims of trafficking in Macedonia at any given time, and that between 8,000 and 18,000 women and girls are trafficked to or through the country per year.

 

The country is a transit country and a destination country for trafficked persons. Traffickers recruit women from other countries, especially Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine, to work as prostitutes in several Macedonian towns. Women are also trafficked through the country on their way to Albania and Kosovo, and then to Italy and other European countries.

 

MACEDONIA - STANDARD WORKWEEK

The country has an official 42-hour workweek with a minimum 24-hour rest period.

 

(Section 6.e. Acceptable Conditions of Work, Macedonia – Report of Human Rights Practices, 2001, U.S. Department of State.)