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Information on the activities of SSM during COVID19 pandemic

In conditions of health crisis, the social dialogue enabled the involvement of SSM in the creation of the measures and activities for maintaining the economic and social functioning of the state. The main goal of SSM was to keep jobs and not to leave any worker without income for himself and his family. It is the task of all social actors in these complex conditions to be involved in order to ensure as much as possible “normal” functioning and at the same time not to allow the negative consequences of the health crisis to be felt only by the workers and their families. We all must share the burden and challenges, because the struggle to create a better society for all, should be the result of joint action of all institutions.

Since the beginning of the health crisis, SSM has been holding regular meetings with representatives of the Government and individual ministries, which shows that the partnership with the Government is the basis for our action through the social dialogue. We insist on the accountability and responsibility of all social partners for the realization and implementation of the agreed obligations.

Legal protection

CCM continuously holds meetings with representatives of the State Labor Inspectorate, civil society and representatives of companies and thus a number of workers' rights were amicably exercised.

In that sense, it should be noted that through negotiations, with the help of SSM, an agreement was signed for payment of the arrears of salaries of the employees in AD Bargala Stip.

Also noteworthy is the meeting of SSM and the Independent Firefighters' Union of Macedonia, which operates within the trade union in SSM, with representatives of the Government at which the payment of salaries and salary contributions to the firefighters was agreed starting from November this year. Also at the meeting, other activities for systemic regulation of the issue of salaries of workers in this serious and important activity were agreed upon, through legal changes and further regulation by the Collective Agreement.

Since the beginning of the health crisis, the legal service of SSM has provided protection of workers' rights in companies employing over 80,000 employees, giving them legal advices, preparation of lawsuits before the authorities. The addresses of our membership in this period since the beginning of the health crisis referred to: dismissals, pressure on workers to sign contract dismissals, transformation of employment contract from indefinite to fixed term, reduction of wages or referral of forced leave to chronically sick and caregivers of children up to 10 years. A large number of appeals were registered for termination of employment contracts, early termination of fixed-term employment contracts and undeclared work.

Many of the addresses are from workers who are not unionized, which prevents the operation of SSM. The large number of addresses is from workers who are not members of the union and in these complex health conditions once again the importance and necessity of union organizing was emphasized.

Social dialogue

CCM with its initiatives and proposals participated in the creation of the three package of measures that were adopted by the Government in order to reduce the harmful consequences of the health crisis in the country.

In these complex conditions upon initiatives of SSM we have provided:

- continuous financial support to the economy with priority of retaining jobs and payment of workers’ salaries

- more efficient care and protection for the citizens from the consequences of the infectious disease with special emphasis on the vulnerable categories of the population

The proposals and initiatives of SSM were aimed at providing healthy and safe working conditions in companies, implementing an efficient educational process with full protection of the health of children and youth who are our future and promoting and organizing the public health system in accordance with the world tendencies.

For us, the protection of workers' and human rights is a priority, many activities undertaken before the health crisis, aimed at promoting workers' rights, were stopped due to the imposed priorities, but we believe it is time to continue because they are an inseparable part of the overall commitment to democratize the state and respect the rights of all without discrimination.

We are committed to continuing the social dialogue at all levels at the maximum possible pace in these complex conditions. In that sense, the social dialogue in the Republic of North Macedonia in this period continues in the direction of:

Adoption of a new Law on Labor Relations.

The new Law on Labor Relations should contain the European and world tendencies in labor relations and in the same SSM stands for:

• Fixed-term employment contracts only in exceptionally objective conditions and lasting up to 1 year

• 38 hour work week,

• maternity leave for 12 months,

• Consistent respect of the right to regulate the salary by law and CA

• full realization of the right to annual leave

• Saturday and Sunday to be days of weekly rest

• Improving healthy and safe working conditions in companies.

• Respecting the conventions on freedom of trade union organizing and functioning

• The employer to be obliged to start the negotiations within 30 days from the submitted draft proposal of the Collective Agreement at the level of the employer by the union.

• promoting collective bargaining

Sunday to be nonworking day for all workers.

In the conditions of the World Health Crisis, caused by the Coronavirus COVID - 19, it turned out that Sunday is more than necessary to be a non-working day for all workers, and in the past we have seen that with the announced measures and the curfew that lasted during the weekends the whole society can also function if Sunday is  a non-working day.

CCM has already proposed a day of weekly rest to be Saturday and Sunday in the previous requests submitted to the Government of RNM and the Government accepted that initiative for which further discussions are ongoing.

In our country, traditionally it is accepted that Saturday and Sunday are days of weekly rest in order to respect family traditions and protection of rights which is in accordance with the ILO Convention No. 106 on weekly rest.

Analyzes and examples show that workers will be more productive, will have more time for the family, rest and professional upskilling and additional education.

CCM believes that by promoting workers' rights and creating a legal framework, a solution for Sunday to be a non-working day shall be found.

This initiative of CCM is already being shown in practice and a large number of employers have voluntarily declared Sunday as a non-working day. This is an example that should be followed by other employers and the Government.

SSM as the only representative trade union in the country expects to be fully informed about the position of the Government on this initiative of ours in order to make a constructive contribution to its final formation.

Signing of general collective agreements both for public and private sector, signing and extension of the validity of the CA at branch level and employer’s level.

Last year SSM prepared a text of a new GCA for the private sector and submitted it to the Employers Organization (ORM). In accordance with the urgency of the need for faster regulation with the GCA of the rights of workers working from home, as well as for regulating the illness of people infected or exposed to the Corona virus, during November 2020, SSM prepared a text of a draft agreement on amendment of the GCA for the private sector in which more precise provisions were proposed for regulating the institute - work from home, as well as a provision for payment of 100% sick leave for the sick workers or workers in isolation due to exposure to the Corona virus. We expect the representatives of ORM to comment on the proposal of SSM.

Also, SSM constantly emphasizes the need for signing of the GCA for public sector and signing, ie extension of the validity.

Introduction of several retirement conditions in the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance.

We propose, in addition to the existing retirement conditions additional conditions to be introduced such as:

Age pension by years of service

Age pension - by age or length of service - by activities/ sectors

Early Age pension

Incomplete Age pension

Introduction of beneficial years of service for construction workers as well as other activities where work tasks take place in particularly difficult working conditions that are detrimental to the life and health of workers.

Healthy and safe working conditions and Protection of workers who are ill, are in isolation or self-isolation due to COVID-19.

The health crisis emphasized the importance of the need to improve healthy and safe working conditions in companies. SSM undertakes activities to fully inform workers that employers are obliged to ensure that the work in the companies is organized in accordance with state protocols for protection of workers from Covid 19, by providing necessary protection equipment, masks, organizing physical distance in offices, providing means for enhanced hygiene in the facilities, etc. Our goal is to train workers that they are obliged to respect the undertaken protection measures, and if the prescribed OSH measures are not provided to them, they should react through their OSH representatives or union representatives to the employer or to the State Labor Inspectorate.

Starting from the difficult existential situation in which a large number of workers found themselves infected by performing their work tasks, ie they were isolated as a result of exposure to the virus, the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia proposed and requested in the Rulebook on the list of occupational diseases, Covid 19 to be considered as an occupational disease, not only for health professionals, but also for workers from other industries employed in institutions where contact and exposure to Covid 19 is possible.

In the activities for suppression of the contagious disease Covid 19, in addition to the health workers, a large number of workers from other activities and institutions are directly exposed to COVID 19. Due to the principle of equality and equal access to rights for all, the COVID 19 should is treated as an occupational disease with the right to 100% salary compensation.

SSM initiated to undertake activities for full realization of the right to salary compensation in the amount of 100% of the legal basis for sick or isolated workers due to exposure to the virus. During the negotiations we expressed satisfaction because we found understanding and constructive dialogue with the Government, ie we received firm assurance that our request will be fully respected because the health of workers and citizens is a priority of the state.

According to the agreement, the Government at its session held on 3.11.2020 adopted a conclusion for payment of 100% sick leave for employees who are sick or in isolation which was submitted to SSM.

Later, at the session held on 17.11.2020, it was announced that the employees who are sick or exposed to the virus will be paid sick leave in accordance with the law and the collective agreement, which according to the current provisions means a reduced amount of salary.

SSM again addressed the competent institutions in the country and asked the Government to reconsider its position on the payment of salary compensation during sick leave in a reduced amount and to accept the request of SSM for payment of salary compensation in the amount of 100% for all employees who are ill or isolated due to exposure to the Covid virus. Our goal is to provide workers with the financial means and opportunities to preserve their own and their families' health and to be able to return to work after their recovery. This can be done with appropriate legal changes that should be implemented as soon as possible, because the situation is alarming.

In a state of declared crisis, workers and citizens must not be left alone, the Government must show that caring for human lives is its priority from which there is no exception.

Increase of the minimum wage

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, points out that, there is a real need to increase the minimum wage, which according to European recommendations and trends should be at least 60% of the average wage in the country.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia continuously advocates and demands increase of the minimum wage in order to improve the standard of workers with the lowest wages and their families. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the growth of the minimum wage and this increase of the minimum wage to be the basis for a gradual increase in all workers' wages, which can very easily happen through the collective agreements.

All activities in the past period have shown that the social dialogue is fulfilling its function, we are open for cooperation with the Government, the representatives of the employers, other trade unions, the NGOs, the academia, etc. in order to improve the position of the workers and the citizens in general. The health crisis has shown that only with an integrated approach of all stakeholders in society we can have results and efficiency. SSM closely monitors the social developments and according to the needs proposes relevant solutions. We do expect the regular meetings with the representatives of the Government to continue in future where our proposals for the promotion of workers' and human rights will be reviewed, but also jointly to review the dynamics and the achieved results as well.

Campaign on Defining Trade Unions to YOUth

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia and the Youth Committee of CCM, have launched the Campaign "Defining Trade Unions to YOUth" to inform young people on their employment rights and bring the union closer to them, by building the idea of ​​solidarity, unity and joint fight for a better future.

This Campaign is a cooperation between the youth structures of the largest trade unions in the Republic of N. Macedonia and Romania (Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia and C.N.S.L.R. Frăția), with the contribution of the youth network of PODKREPA, Bulgaria, and is supported by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

In a time of global health and economic crisis, it has once again shown that young people, both in our country and in other European countries, face a huge number of issues and challenges when it comes to their employment rights. According to the information we have, in our country since the beginning of the health crisis, 35.318 people have lost their jobs and almost 34% of them are young people under 29 years, which is a worrying information, given the fact that most of the young people who have lost their jobs, had fixed-term employment contracts and were not unionized.

For this purpose, we want to reach young people and raise awareness of the importance and role of the unions in defending workers' rights, as one of the only legitimate organizations of all employees.

The activity is being implemented within the campaign: LEGAL PROTECTION - SECURITY OF WORKERS' RIGHTS to raise awareness among workers and strengthen the capacity of SSM, with the support of the Project: Strengthening Social Dialogue, implemented by the International Labor Organization.

The design of the website is supported by Promoting Social Dialogue
The Project is funded by the European Union, and implemented by the International Labour Organization.

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