North Macedonia: Trade unions provide new legal services for workers during the current COVID-19 labour market crisis

Through the EU-funded project Strengthening Social Dialogue, ILO is supporting trade union initiatives to provide much needed legal services for members at a time when rights are infringed too often.

News | 13 October 2020

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As the ILO/EBRD Rapid Assessment report of the employment impacts of COVID-19 in North Macedonia pointed out, the decline in working hours during the second quarter was equivalent to the loss of 85,550 full-time jobs. The third quarter does not look much better. Based on recent ILO data 10% of all working hours were lost. A survey also carried out by ILO/EBRD to map the impact on enterprises in the country found that 82% of them were severely affected, the majority reporting a reduction in revenues by 50% or more.  The labour market being so volatile and workers often paying the price of lockdown measures, the role of trade unions has never been more important in the protection of workers’ rights. 
In the context of the pandemic, the most frequent rights infringements included front-line workers such as health care workers, not receiving proper protective equipment, leaving them at risk. Wages are illegally withheld. Some laid off workers have reported difficulties in accessing social protection schemes. It also happens that trade union representatives are dismissed when they try to protect their fellow workers’ interests in conflict situations or in case of rights violations.
"It also happens that trade union representatives are dismissed when they try to protect their fellow workers’ interests in conflict situations or in case of rights violations."
In response to these rights violations, the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (FTUM/SSM) launched a new campaign with free legal service to members with workplace conflicts generated by the pandemic. Together with the branch unions, they reorganized their work in accordance with the recommendations of the Government and the ILO. Since the beginning of the crisis, the union provided aid to workers in several companies, with more than 80,000 workers benefitting from enhanced focus on services. All services, including legal protection, were given by telephone or e-mail. In exceptional cases, SSM had  meetings with representatives of the workers and employers according to the health protocols.

One of the beneficiaries of legal aid was Mendo Milevski, a trade union representative in the agriculture sector. His employer suspended and dismissed him after he pressed for the rights of employees to receive a payment of annual leave allowance which the employer was obliged to do but withheld. Mr. Milevski reported the infringement to the branch union, the Union of AGRO and FTUM/SSM, which took the case forward and turned to the State Labour Inspectorate and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy so that they review the conditions of dismissal and termination of contract. “The Union provided me with free legal assistance, which was both quick and efficient. It only took a month to inspect the company, assess the violations and close the entire process. The company was ordered to suspend my dismissal, I got my job back and resumed my trade union role.” –explained Mendo Milovski.
"What made me especially happy was that some of the employees joined the union when they saw that only together, united and unionized can we improve workers’ rights."
Another story of successful trade union assistance comes from the textile sector in North Macedonia. During the pandemic, a company made unfounded, illegal deductions in 30% from workers’ salaries. Ununionized employees organized a spontaneous, unannounced strike, not supported by strike law. The employer threatened to terminate their contracts.  The branch union and FTUM/SSM worked together to solve the situation. It turned out the company had financial difficulties and the state eventually provided financial support for the payment of wages. The Union also achieved that the management and the union signed an agreement to settle the illegal arrears and to ensure the regular payment of wages. Additionally, they managed to prevent that the employer imposes sanctions on the employees who participated in the strike. The union member said: “One of the principles of the union is the principle of solidarity, that is why we asked for the protection of colleagues who are not union members and were threatened with dismissal in times of a crisis. After the agreement, wages started to be paid. What made me especially happy was that some of the employees joined the union when they saw that only together, united and unionized can we improve workers’ rights.”

The Macedonian Confederation of Free Trade Unions (KSS), also reported threats and intimidation against trade union representatives, in violation of freedom of association. On their side, they launched campaigns to protect workers’ rights in COVID-19 response, both at national and enterprise levels. They launched a media campaign aimed at pressuring employers to ensure health and safety at work, in particular for health care workers.

Both unions used the ILO’s  Prevention and Mitigation of COVID-19 at Work Checklist to ensure that workers are safe during the pandemic.

Another development supported by the ILO is the enhanced use of online communication tools in campaigning and to continue the unions’ education programmes for workers. 

In the coming months, ILO will continue to support trade unions in North Macedonia through the EU-funded project Strengthening Social Dialogue. Trade unions will develop new and enhanced legal and advisory services for members, and utilize social and print media to communicate to workers on the benefits of accessing trade union services and collective bargaining agreements.