MEETING OF SSM AND THE WORLD BANK
10/02/2013
Secretary General Angelko Angjelkovski (center), lawyer Lile Petrova and head of departments Slobodan Trendafilov (left) with the World Bank team
Creating quality jobs is one of the primary objectives of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia and hence in the coming years we expect close cooperation with the World Bank mission to increase employment in the country- was said at today's meeting of the SSM leadership and team of the World Bank .
The purpose of the meeting familiarizing with SSM’s efforts and activities on creating new jobs and opportunities for collaboration with the World Bank on employment growth.
Mrs. Indira Santos, Senior Economist and Task Team Leader, said that the purpose of the World Bank’s mission is to start planning and organizing activities to support development of a new jobs strategy which will replace the old one which expires in 2015; follow-up of the previous discussions with the Government to support the evaluation of programs for active labor market; follow-up of the survey to measure the implementation of skills and discuss any requests for technical support in the areas of employment and job creation.
Development specialist Christoph Kurowski (left) and Senior economist Indira Santos (right)
Secretary General of the Council of SSM Angelko Angjelkovski informed the team about the SSM’s active participation in national programs on reducing unemployment, including the Action Plan for Employment 2011 – 2013, participation in the Twinning Project for the National Programme for Employment and other national projects related to employment. SSM is running a campaign for establishing of local economic and social councils. They proved to be useful institutions for aligning the needs of employers and job seekers. Their priority is employment of young people and their connection with the labor market, explained Angjelkovski.
The World Bank representatives reported that for the World Bank and the European Commission, in particular through the IPA program, the topic of primary interest is the problem with youth employment. Specialist on Human Development Mr. Christoph Kurowski said that the focus is on labor market analysis and skills of young people and he was interested in the views of the union. Kurowski explained the Regional Program for Inclusive Growth in SEE by 2020. Cooperation with SSM would be in terms of determining working areas of the project.
The World Bank mission will cooperate with several state institutions, as the ministries of labor, social policy, economy, education and finance, Employment Agency and other relevant institutions.
