CENTRE FOR INEGRATION OF THE YOUNG “YOUTH DREAM” – STRUGA

Total budget: MKD 330.000

Timeframe: 04.01.2021 – 05.04.2021 (4 months)

CONSTITUENTS

Constituents of the Centre for Integration of the Young “YOUTH DREAM” are the employees of the private sector, employers, Municipality of Struga, Labor Inspectorate, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

ON THE PROJECT SUPPORTED BY CIVICA MOBILITAS

Protection of labor rights.

BACKGROUND

Work is part of anyone’s everyday life and it is crucial for the dignity, wellbeing and development of man. The economic development should include creation of jobs and labor conditions where people can work in freedom, security and dignity, protected from discrimination and exploitation at work. The role of the social justice and good working conditions is a necessity for peace and development, a fact that cannot be underestimated. Labor rights are guaranteed by the Constitution. Based on these criteria, the rights deriving from the labor relations are considered inalienable and unlimited. 

In the cases when the employers or institutions do not respect the labor rights or prevent them from fulfilling any right related to labor, there is a labor dispute. A labor dispute is a dispute occurring when the rights given by law are violated or when certain obligations towards the worker resulting from labor relations are not fulfilled. According to Article 203 of the Law on Labor Relations in the Republic of North Macedonia it is stipulated that the right to work is guaranteed. The Universal Declaration proclaims the right to work and with respect to it, the right to free choice of employment and practicing of one’s profession.

The state of affairs with the workers in the private sector, compared to the public sector, is much worse because most of the people working in the private sector are part of the informal economy, gray economy or under the influence of frequent fiscal evasions.

Taking into consideration the research of YOUTH DREAM conducted according to the laws on labor rights and directives of the European Union, the results show that the situation with labor rights in the Municipality of Struga is not at the appropriate level. This means: concerning number of workers without employment contracts and insurance, compensation for safety at work, working for more than 40 hours per week without compensation, mobbing, repayment of K15, lack of field checks by the Labor Inspectorate, no trade unions, and lack of confidence in the legal system which results with no lawsuits on violation of labor rights in the period of 2019-2020.

GOALS AND RESULTS

Goal: Improvement of the conditions and rights of the workers in the Municipality of Struga.

Objectives:

• Strengthening and building of the capacities of the workers and employers when it comes to the rights and obligations which come from the Labor Law and its promotion;
• Strengthening the institutional cooperation among the private sector, Labor Inspectorate, Municipality of Struga, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
• Creation of capacities for supervision of the institutions;
• Raising the awareness of the people on labor rights.

RESULTS

1. Workers are aware and stimulated to report abuse of their labor rights;
2. Established system of regular meetings among the workers, employers and inspectorate;
3. Improved monitoring capacities by putting pressure on the institutions on all violations of laws on their labor rights;
4. Raised awareness of the citizens on their labor rights.

ACTIVITIES

1. Training for employers and workers;
2. Round table;
3. Open day with citizens;
4. Establishment of a committee for monitoring of the institutions;
5. Preparation of a survey;
6. Preparation of a video.