MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WORLD BANK
03/20/2012
Today the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia welcomed Borjana Goceva, Indira Santos and Johannes Ketl, representatives of the World Bank. The objective of the meeting was giving information regarding unemployment in the country, the reasons for unemployment, the role of trade unions and the adequacy of the education system.
The General Secretary of the Council of SSM Mr. Andjelko Angjelkovski and the head of Department of SSM Ms. Ljiljana Jankulovska informed the guests that the high unemployment is largely a result of the transformation of the capital, and many other reasons. They explained the role of the Economic and Social Council and informed about the minimum wage, which was adopted by consensus of the three social partners.
The guests were interested in the different records of the number of unemployed which was explained that the rate depends on the method of recording and thus encounters different numbers. But in any case the rate of unemployment is very high and SSM constantly is striving to bring measures to reduce the unemployment.
The representatives of the World Bank were interested in the compatibility of the education system or its suitability to the needs of new jobs. Andjelko Angjelkovski explained that the existing educational system basically meets the needs of the economy, but there is plenty of room for expansion, mostly in the area of vocational education and practical instruction. Also, Indira Santos said that the World Bank launches a project to develop professional skills in 2014.