Government of the Republic of North Macedonia

Horizontal Principles and Creating Conditions for Success:

More Social and Inclusive Europe

Ministry of Labor and Social Policy

Presenter: Aleksandra Slavkoska

Chapter 22: Regional Policy

Bilateral screening, Brussels: October 5-6, 2023
 CONTENT

 Relevant EU legislation and International Acts

 Horizontal Principles linked to Fundamental Rights of the European Union
 National legal framework
 Institutional framework
 Horizontal Enabling Conditions linked to equality, anti-discrimination and
protection of rights of persons with disabilities
 Thematic Enabling Conditions regarding policy objective “a more social and
inclusive Europe implementing the European pillar of social rights”
 RELEVANT EU LEGISLATION AND INTERNATIONAL ACTS

 Common Provision Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European parliament and

of the council, of 24 June 2021 ( Article 9 , Article 15 and Annexes III and IV) ;
 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union 2012/C 326/02;
 Council Decision 2010/48/EC of 26 November 2029 concerning the conclusions,
by the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No
27/2010 as 27 January 2010).
 Fundamental Rights of the European Union
United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
HORISONTAL PRINCIPLES
 Equality between women and men,
 Non-discrimination based on gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief,
disability, age or sexual orientation
 Integration of persons with disabilities
 Accessibility for persons with disabilities
 Workers’ rights , working conditions, family and professional life
 Social Security and Social Assistance
 The rights of the child
 The rights of the elderly

Enshrined and guaranteed in Constitution and laws

Promoted in the strategies, programmes and projects
 NATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK
 Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia
Preamble of the Constitution, where it reads: “the guaranteeing of human rights, citizen’s
freedoms, and ethnic equality”
Specific provisions of Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia (Official Gazette
No. 91/01) in Articles 9, 19, 20, 32, 44, 48, 50, and 54
The 2001 Amendments to the Constitution, Amendment XI defining the competence of
the Ombudsman in protection against discrimination
 Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men (Official Gazette No. 6/2012 and
166/2014)
 Law on Prevention and Protection against Discrimination (Official Gazette No. 258/20)
 Law on Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the
optional protocol to the Convention, 2011
 NATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Other laws
• Law on Prevention and Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Official
Gazette No. 24/21)
• Law on Social Protection (Official Gazette No. 104/19, 146/19, 275/19, 302/20, 311/20, 163/21,
294/21 and 99/22)
• Family Law (Official Gazette No. 80/1992, 9/1996, 38/2004, 33/2006, 84/2008, 67/10, 156/10,
39/12, 44/12, 38/14, 115/14, 104/15 и 150/15 and 53/21)
• Law on Pension and Disability Insurance (Official Gazette No. 98/12, 166/12, 15/13, 170/13,
43/14, 44/14, 97/14, 113/14, 160/14, 188/14, 20/15, 61/15, 97/15, 129/15, 147/15, 154/15,
173/15, 217/15, 27/16, 120/16, 132/16, 35/18, 220/18, 245/18, 180/19, 275/19, 31/2 ,267/20,
67/22 and 79/23)
• Labor Relations Law (Official Gazette No. 74/15)
• Minimum Wage Law (Official Gazette No. 11/2012, 30/2014, 180/2014, 81/2015, 129/2015,
132/2017, 90/18, 239/19 and 41/22 )
• Law on Protection against Harassment at Workplace (Official Gazette No. 79/13)
• Law on Health Protection (Official Gazette No. 37/16)
 NATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Other laws of relevance for protection of the rights of persons with disabilities
 Law on Protection of Children (Official Gazette No. 23/13, 12/14, 44/14, 144/14, 10/15, 25/15,
150/15, 192/15, 27/16, 163/17, 21/18, 198/18,104/19, 146/19, 275/19, 311/20, 294/21 and
150/22),
 Law on Primary Education (Official Gazette No. 161/19 and 229/20),
 Law on Employment of Persons with Disabilities (Official Gazette No. 44/2000, 16/04, 62/05,
113/05, 29/07, 88/08, 161/08, 99/09, 136/11, 129/15, 147/15, 27/16, 99/18 and 103/21),
 Law on Civilian Invalids of War (Official Gazette No. 33/76, 25/79, 11/81, 4/85, 12/89, 17/91,
38/91, 81/99, 165/08, 12/09 and 161/09)
 Law on Health Insurance (Official Gazette No. 25/2000, 34/00, 96/00, 50/01, 11/02, 31/03, 84/05,
37/06, 18/07, 36/07, 82/08, 98/08, 6/09, 67/09, 50/10, 156/10, 53/11, 26/12, 16/13, 91/13,
187/13, 43/14, 44/14, 97/14, 112/14, 113/14, 188/14, 20/15, 61/15, 98/15, 129/15, 150/15,
154/15, 192/15, 217/15, 27/16, 37/16, 120/16, 142/16, 171/17, 275/19 and 77/21)
 Law on Construction (Official Gazette No. 130/09, 124/10, 18/11, 36/11, 54/11, 59/11, 13/12,
144/12, 25/13, 79/13, 137/13, 163/13, 115/14, 27/14, 42/14, 28/14, 149/14, 187/14, 129/15,
44/15, 217/15, 226/15,30/16 and 31/16)
 Law on Disability Organizations (Official Gazette No. 89/08, 59/12 and 23/13)
 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
EQUALITY
 Commission on Equal Opportunities for Women
and Men in the Assembly of the Republic of North
Macedonia and the Club of women MPs
 The Inter-ministerial Consultative and Advisory
Group on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men
 Ministries and the Government of the Republic of
North Macedonia
– Coordinators/Deputies for Equal Opportunities
of Women and Men
 Local self-government units
– Coordinators/Deputies for Equal Opportunities
of Women and Men
– Commission for Equal Opportunities of Women
and Men
 Ministry of Labour and Social Policy - Department
for Equal Opportunities
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
 National Coordination Body for monitoring the
situation regarding non-discrimination and
implementation of laws, by-laws, and strategic
documents in the field
 Inter-party Parliamentary Group in the Assembly
of the Republic of North Macedonia for
promotion of the rights of LGBTI people

Ombudsman
 Commission for Prevention and Protection
against Discrimination
 Courts
 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
 Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia
– Inter-party parliamentary group for the rights of persons with disabilities (50 MPs from different political
parties)
 Government of the Republic of North Macedonia
– National Coordinating Body for the implementation of the Convention on the rights of persons with
disabilities (Established in 2018 of which all competent ministries are members and two representatives of
civil organizations of persons with disabilities)
 Competent ministries and institutions
– Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of
Transport and Communications, Ministry of Justice, Agency for Sport and Youth, Employment Agency of
the Republic of North Macedonia, social affairs centres, schools, kindergartens, rehabilitation centres, local
self-government units
 Ombudsman
– Sector for protection of the rights of children and of people with disabilities and
– Team for monitoring the implementation of CRPD 17 stakeholders including organizations of persons with
disabilities, civil organizations and individuals
 Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination
– Independent and autonomous body that operates in accordance with the Law on Prevention and
Protection against Discrimination
 More social and inclusive Europe implementing the
European Pillar of Social Rights
THEMATIC ENABLING CONDITIONS

1. Strategic policy framework for active labour market policies

2. National strategic framework for gender equality
3. Strategic policy framework for the education and training system at all levels
4. National strategic policy framework for social inclusion and poverty reduction
5. National Roma inclusion strategic policy framework
6. Strategic policy framework for health and long-term care
 More social and inclusive Europe implementing the
European Pillar of Social Rights
THEMATIC ENABLING CONDITIONS
1. Strategic policy framework for
active labour market policies
 National Employment Strategy (2021—2027) with
the Employment Action Plan (2021—2023)
 Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan (2023—2026)
 Annual Operational Plan for Active Employment
Programmes and Measures and Labour Market
Services
 National Strategy for the Formalization of Informal
Economy (2023—2025) and Action Plan (in
preparation)
 Economic Reform Programme (2023—2025)
 National Strategy for Development of Social
Enterprises 2021—2027 with the Action Plan 2021
—2023.
Next steps:
Adoption of the new Labour Law that envisages provisions aimed at
promoting gender equality in the workplace.
Revision of the Law for protection from Harassment at work place
Adoption and implementation of the new Law on Social Enterprises
2. National strategic framework for
gender equality
 National Strategy for Equality and Non-discrimination
2022–2026
 Strategy for Gender Equality 2022–2027 and Action Plan
2022–2024
Includes specific measures and actions to address gender
inequalities in the social policy sector with aim to
promote women's economic empowerment, enhance
social protection for vulnerable groups, and challenge
traditional gender roles.
 Introduction of Gender Budgeting in the Budget Law
Framework ensures that resources are allocated in a
gender-responsive manner, set the principle of gender
responsive budgeting and obligation to include gender
indicators and a gender budget statement at the central
and local level.
 More social and inclusive Europe implementing the
European Pillar of Social Rights
THEMATIC ENABLING CONDITIONS
3. Strategic policy framework for the 4. National strategic policy framework for
education and training system at all levels social inclusion and poverty reduction
 Comprehensive Education Strategy 2018-2025  National Deinstitutionalization Strategy of the Republic of
The document encompasses six main pillars of the North Macedonia 2018-2027
- transition from institutional care to family and community
educational system: preschool education; primary
education; secondary education; vocational education and care with support of social services
- development of services according to the needs of the
training; higher education and research; and learning and
education for adults. beneficiaries
 Introduced new model of assessment of children with
 Concept of Inclusive Education no. 18- 6577/1 of 06 July
2020 disability according to the International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
Next steps:
 National program for the development of social protection
Adoption of changes in the Law on Adult Education Law, 2022-2032
knowledge validation of non-formal and formal learning .  Program for building, equipping and maintenance of social
Adoption of a new Law on Secondary Education, harmonized protection facilities and nursing homes and child protection
with the principles of Article 24, Right to inclusive education facilities for 2023
of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with  Child Protection Activity Development Program for 2023
Disabilities  Early Education and Development Program ( Official Gazette
no. 46/14)
 More social and inclusive Europe implementing the
European Pillar of Social Rights
THEMATIC ENABLING CONDITIONS
5. National Roma inclusion strategic 6. Strategic policy framework for health
policy framework and long-term care
 Strategy for Roma Inclusion 2022–2030
 National Action Plan for the Protection,
Promotion and Fulfillment of the Human Rights of
Roma Women and Girls 2022-2024 with priority
areas: employment, education, health, hosing, civil
registration, antigypsyism and culture

Next steps: Next steps:

Adoption of National Action Plans in each priority area Drafting of National Long-term Care Strategy
More social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights
NATIONAL TARGETS BY 2027

The National Employment Strategy 2021-2027 sets three

ambitious targets that correspond to the three headline
indicators of the European Pillar's Action Plan.

HEADLINE INDICATOR Initial Value Target value 2027

EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATION IN THE TOTAL

51.7% (2018) 60%
POPULATION (aged 15-64) RATE

ADULT PARTICIPATION (aged 25-64) IN

12.7% (2016) 16%
EDUCATION AND TRAINING RATE

SHARE OF PEOPLE AT RISK OF POVERTY 21.9% (2018) 18%

More social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights
NATIONAL TARGETS BY 2027

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS TO THE LABOUR MARKET

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Target value in
Key Indicators Initial Value
2027

People who have basic or above basic digital skills

35.6 % (2021) 45%
(% of the population aged 16-74)
NEET (% of the population aged 15-29) 24.2% (2021) < 20%

GENDER GAP IN EMPLOYMENT

Target value in
Key Indicators Initial Value
2027

Gender Gap in Employment 15.6 % (2022) < 15%

More social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights
NATIONAL TARGETS BY 2027
FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS

FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS

Target value in
Key Indicators Initial Value
2027

Employment Rate 56.7% (2022) 59.8 %

(% of population aged 15-64)

The share of long-term unemployment in the

71.8% (2019) <65%
overall unemployment
More social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights
NATIONAL TARGETS BY 2027
SOCIAL PROTECTION AND INCLUSION

SOCIAL PROTECTION AND INCLUSION

Key Indicators Initial Value Target value in 2027

Child protection and care (total invested funds for 0.29% of GDP
0.6% of GDP
child protection measures) (2018)*
The share of people at risk of poverty 21.8 %** (2020) 18%

*0.56% of GDP in 2021

** EU-SILC data

.
 COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT
Horizontal enabling conditions:
 Legal framework is in place and aligned with the EU and international standards
 Comprehensive strategic framework is in place or is being developed and it is in line
with the EU values and policy on fundamental rights as reflected in the EU Treaties, EU
international commitments and the EU Enlargement Package Policy
 Institutional structures are set and functional
 Established Resource Centre for Gender Responsive Policymaking and Budgeting,
which supports strengthening the capacities of administrative servants through the
established
In IPA III context, programmes and action in pursuit of the specific objectives mainstream
the horizontal priorities of human rights and gender equality. Programmes and actions
address interlinkages between Sustainable Development Goals, including the goals of
poverty reduction as per the Article 6 (2) managing authority jobs and opportunities
specific procedures of the Regulation (EU) 2021/1529).
 COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT
Thematic enabling conditions:
 The educational, employment and social policy objectives are well in harmony with the EU
Pillar on Social Rights and the EU policy on Fundamental Rights and Gender Action
Strategy and the Digital transformation drive (as regards digitals skills).
 Sector policy follows the EU acquis

In IPA III context, the assistance implemented through sector operational programmes on the
basis of relevant thematic priorities set out in the IPA III programming framework and the
Commission guidance, which takes relevant national strategies and sector policies into due
account.
Indicators of the IPA III Strategic response are aligned with the core indicators of the national
sector strategies and are considered by the Sector Working Groups and Sectorial Monitoring
Committees.
 FURTHER PLANS
 Enhancement of the Law on Prevention and Protection Against Discrimination in order to achieve
greater independence and functionality of the Commission for Prevention and Protection against
Discrimination
 Harmonization of the legal regulations with the Law on Prevention and Protection Against
Discrimination within a four-year time frame
 Adoption of a new Law on Gender Equality
 Establishment of a Secretariat for Gender Equality in the Government of the Republic of North
Macedonia
 Adoption of the new Labour Law
 Adaption of the revisited Law for Protection from Harassment at Work Place
 Adoption of the new Law on Social Enterprises
 Adoption of the National Action Plan for the Protection, Promotion and Fulfillment of the Human
Rights of Roma Women and Girls 2022-2024
 Capacity building and raising public awareness
 FURTHER PLANS
 Adoption of the National Strategy for the Rights of People with Disabilities 2023-2030
 Drafting and adoption of new Law on employment of persons with disabilities and Law on the system of
assessment of persons with disabilities
 Adoption of the National Long-term Care Strategy 2024-2030
 Adoption of a new Law on Secondary Education in line with the principles of Article 24 – Right to
inclusive education of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
 Adoption of new Law on Vocational Education and Training
 Adoption of new Law on Construction
 Adoption of new Law on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services
 Reform of the cash benefits system for people with disabilities to align with their individual needs
 Continuation of the process of deinstitutionalization
 Adaptation of 20 educational institutions for easier access of pupils with disability
 Harmonization with the Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
October, 26 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies and
the Implementing Act
 Harmonization with the Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the
accessibility requirements for products and services