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INTERVIEW
Currently, about of determination of the representation of the Such a positive example was the adoption of
1,000 companies unions and the employers. The representa- the Law on Minimum Wage which was pre-
are members of this tion is proven by meeting several criteria such pared after extensive consultations with the
organization, and as: the number of members or the number of Organization of Employers of Macedonia and
these employ 20% employees in these companies, the divisional with the Labor Unions of Macedonia, and as
of the employees in distribution, the regional distribution, and a result, it was successfully implemented and
the private sector in the ability for a social dialogue, which is prov- it did not cause negative repercussions in the
the field of economy en by signing at least three collective agree- economy. This year we also prepared an elec-
in Macedonia. ments at a branch level, or at a department tronic database of adopted conclusions and
The members are level. The OEM in the past period was the only recommendations which have been adopted
organized into 17 association of employers in Macedonia that by the Economic-Social Council, and we will
civic associations, met these requirements and for this reason, monitor their implementation until their
by sectors, in only the OEM is a member and participates in adoption in the Parliament of the Republic of
accordance with the operation of the Economic-Social Council, Macedonia. Only in this manner we would be
the national and it is a signatory of the general collective able to measure their success.
classification of agreement for the private sector in the field
activities of economy. The organization also represents the
employers in the process of social agreement
The organization is a member of the Eco- where the economic ministries from the Gov-
nomic-Social Council. What are the activities ernment and the unions participate. What are
of the organization in regard to this member- the experiences from the past negotiations?
ship?
А. Dimitrov: I mentioned that the social dia-
А. Dimitrov: The Economic-Social Council logue which takes place within the Economic-
(ESC) is an institution where the interests of Social Council is of tripartite nature, and the
the employees “collide”, represented through employers, the union and the representatives
the two representative unions, the Govern- of the Government are its members. With the
ment, represented through the two represen- Agreement on Establishment of the Econom-
tative unions, the Government, represented ic-Social Council we obliged ourselves that
through four ministries, and the employers. we would compulsorily review the changes
Its role, although it is advisory, is very impor- of the laws in the field of labor relations, pen-
tant for the economic and the social stability sion and health insurance, employment and
of every country. It is not by chance that the occupational health and safety. Of course,
first economic-social councils in the devel- we can dispute about all laws from the eco-
oped Western European Countries were es- nomic-social field. In the discussion about the
tablished more than one hundred years ago. last operational plan of the ESC we insisted to
There is no better way to find a solution of dispute about the Budget of the Republic of
some economic-social problem or a way to Macedonia as well, because we consider that
stop future conflicts from this field of the so- it is very important for the overall economic-
cial dialogue between the interested parties. social situation in this country. The greatest
In this past period we have witnessed that obstacle in the past operation is the adoption
dialogue and compromise are essential for of laws with a short procedure. Very often the
the resolution of political crises as well. The Minister of Labour and Social Policy apolo-
Economic-Social Council in this past period gizes that we have a very short period for a
works with variable success. Its operation is dispute and consultations with our members,
hindered in conditions of this political chaos however the Government insisted on adopt-
which exists in this country, however on sev- ing the law as soon as possible. Recently, as
eral occasions, when we had enough time for a result of extensive negotiations and consul-
consultations and dialogue, the results were tations, the Government gave up its intention
good. And the international conventions of- to adopt a new law on employment of people
ten suggest that these issues are resolved with disability where it proposed that the
with compulsory consultation with the repre- companies which did not employ people with
sentatives of both employers and employees. disabilities should pay compensation in an
September 2016 33
