CONFERENCE ON LOCAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCILS

1/28/2016

Caption 1. The President of MPS, Tihomir Klimoski as a Chairman on the Conference

The President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, PhD Zhivko Mitrevski attended a conference dedicated on the local economic and social councils, hosted by USAID Project, Youth Employability Skills (YES Network).

The Chairman on the Conference was the President of the Macedonian Police Union (MPS), Tihomir Klimoski, who is also a Chairman of the Local Economic and Social Council of the city of Skopje.

On the conference several issues were discussed regarding the achievements and challenges in the functioning of LESCs, and their importance as a driving force in the development of effective economic and social policies, creation of new jobs, as well as improving of the local economies and the role of the support to the local employment policies. Also the participants discussed the future steps that should be taken in order to ensure long term sustainability.

The US Ambassador to Macedonia, His Excellency Mr. Jess Bailey and the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Frosina Tashevska- Remenski had their opening speeches.

Using the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) as a model, USAID together the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia and the social partners helped in the establishment of LESCs in Stip, Strumica, Bitola, Gostivar, Tetovo and Skopje and USAID also gave a supports to the already established economic and social council in Prilep. Also, LESC was established in Resen. LESCs in Veles and Sveti Nikole were established with a support of EU/ILO. Although the establishment of these LESCs was supported by the international community, the municipalities shall be responsible for their maintenance.

Caption 2. The President of CCM, PhD Mitrevski on the conference

Despite the President of CCM, the conferences was also attended by representatives from NESC and LESCs, municipal authorities and the social partners.