16 September, 2008Labour laws adopted without consultation will reduce conditions and workers' rights in Macedonia.
MACEDONIA: IMF's Macedonian affiliate SIER is considering organising demonstrations or strike actions with other unions in Macedonia to protest against new changes in labour legislation.
These changes have been adopted by Parliament in an expedited way without consultations with the social partners and under pressure of the International Financial Institutions. Government has argued that these changes would make labour market more flexible and help create more favourable conditions for business and attract investors.
Among these changes:
•Employers no longer have the obligation to re-hire dismissed workers in case of an upturn in business and improved financial conditions in the enterprise;
•A new shift system preventing workers from rotating shifts;
•The number of holidays has been reduced to 20, instead of from 20 to 26 days previously;
•The period a worker can be on short-term contracts without securing employment protection has been extended from 4 to 5 years.