International Workers' Day Message

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On the occasion of the International Workers’ Day – 1 May, the federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia sends cordial greetings to all the workers and the message that the fundamental human rights are inviolable. Everyone has the right to ensure their existence of their labor and to build their own future and the future of the community.

For this purpose, of utmost importance is employees to organize unions and to join, as workers participation has a key role in building of a modern and democratic society.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia is the largest workers’ organization in the country that persists more than a century. It confirms the preoccupation of SSM in achieving of its fundamental goals: improving of the material and social position of workers, respect and promotion of their rights, respect for the union and strengthening of its position in the society as a social partner who equally contribute to the building of Macedonia into a modern and democratic society - a candidate country for membership in the European Union.

With practical, rational, modernized and institutional approach, in terms of toughest economic challenges of global financial and debt crisis, ССM focused and defended the three most important pillars:

  • Did not allow mass layoffs of workers;
  • Did not allow wage cuts;
  • Did not allow increase in retirement limit.

Verified results are part of the labor legislation and we are in implementation process of a series of EU directives, promotion of social dialogue, adoption of many historical laws like the Minimum Wage Law, the Law on European Workers’ Councils and the Law on Mobbing which is expected to be adopted soon. At the same time, labor legislation is enriched by ratifying 5 ILO Conventions and 19 EU Directives, which is a concrete contribution in terms of increasing the number of, but also in raising awareness of the need for International labor standards.

SSM remains with the same challenges: promotion of labor rights, respect for labor laws and collective agreements, increased number of employees, regular payment and maintaining the real value of wages, rise of awareness of the need for the implementation of international labor standards, promotion of social dialogue and more intensive process of formation of local economic and social councils, and other issues to improve the economic and social position of workers.

Skopje, 2013

ILO Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities - EU FRIEDRICH EBERT STIFTUNG Организацијa на работодавачи на Македонија etuc