- Македонски
- English
On November 17, 2025, the final conference as part of the Project - TRADE UNIONS AND JUST TRANSITION PROCESSES: ROLE, IMPORTANCE, AND FUTURE TRADE UNION STEPS FOR SUPPORT AND ACTIVISM THAT WILL ENSURE PROTECTED WORKERS AND WORKERS' RIGHTS!, which the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) implemented with the support of the International Labor Organization (ILO), was held at the SSM’s Workers' Home, with the aim of marking the end of the project and presenting its results.
The conference that was announced and organized under the following motto "There is no just transition without protected workers' rights and without the participation of trade unions!" took place in the presence of representatives of the ILO Office in Skopje, Natasha Simjanoska Mechkaroska and Sofija Jovanovska Glavinova, representatives of the social partners, Svetlana Ristovska – Antic, Executive Director of the Employers' Organization of Macedonia (ORM), Mile Boshkov, President of the Business Confederation of Macedonia (BKM), Snezana Jankova Petkovska, expert in occupational safety and health, Kosta Petrovski, external expert who also led the Just Transition training within the framework of this Project, as well as in the presence of representatives from all branch unions affiliated to the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM).
SSM’s president, Slobodan Trendafilov, in his introductory address presented the current situation when it comes to the Just Transition process in our country in order to ensure determination of future steps of action towards the realization, protection and promotion of the labour rights of those workers who will be affected by this process and sent a request for greater involvement and improvement of the communication and cooperation of the Government with the social partners and the civil sector, especially because the trade unions and the business community have the potential and capacities for expertise that can complement the government measures and activities towards the sustainable development of the country, which represents the correct path through which the Just Transition process should be led.
The representatives of SSM presented the results of all activities that were part of the project, and in particular promoted the newly created SSM - Digital Trade Union Guide for Climate Change and Just Transition, which resulted from the joint work, cooperation and communication with the trade union representatives from those sectors that will be the most affected by the Just Transition and as well as taking into account the opinions and suggestions of the local population who became acquainted with this Project and the activities of SSM for Just Transition thanks to the organized personal interactive meetings with SSM representatives that took place in the past period, that were as well part of this project.
At the final conference, special attention was put to the social dialogue as definitely main key to overcoming the challenges that arise and will arise in the present period and the period to come during the transition of the national economies towards decarbonization, with the aim of ensuring the achievement of fair results and the fulfillment of the interests of all stakeholders, or the fulfillment of the interests of the workers’, the enterprises, the communities and future generations who undoubtedly deserve a life in a healthy and green environment.
Representatives of the trade unions, representatives of the employers, as well as representatives of the ILO office in Skopje all together sent a message of future commitments to act jointly towards, on one hand, the complete implementation of the Just Transition process of our country, which is undoubtedly important and which must happen so that we can secure our future and secure the future of future generations, but on the other hand, acting with taking special care of the social security of all affected workers’ and citizens’.
During the conference together they sent a clear message that the key to a successful Just Transition is undoubtedly a strong social dialogue, well-planned steps and especially well-planned cooperation between all stakeholders.
The Government's independent action without the involvement of all social partners - trade unions and employers' organizations, will only allow each of the proposed and adopted policies no matter if on national or local level to result with unprotected workers’ and companies that will suffer losses, which will damage the state budget and harm the national economy.
Also, such policy implementation will result in dissatisfied citizens, cities and regions, and especially dissatisfied young people, who will easily continue losing trust in the policymakers and will start looking for better life outside our national borders.
As we say that there is no future without a just transition process, we must say that there is no future without safe and protected workers.
At the end of this conference, the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) presented its proposed policy paper dedicated to the Just Transition processes in our country, which will soon be published on our website and our social media, and emphasized that SSM, as the largest and most numerous trade union in our country, will continue to dedicate its trade union activities to the Just Transition, of course with hope of better future cooperation with all social partners, employers' organizations and the Government, as well as local authorities, because only by acting together will we be able to successfully implement this process.
