Unasm newsletter no 13 en

For the new publication of the electronic informant,

Slobodan Antovski, president of UNASM, highlights

that the issue of youth unemployment in the Republic

of Macedonia is an acute problem and is also an issue of

great importance for the European Union. Trade unions

can give huge contribution to the fight against youth

unemployment for better social security and to the

overall development of the society. In cooperation with

the European center for workers’ questions- EZA and

CNV Internationaal, UNASM includes young people in educational pro-

grammes that give youngsters possibilities to find jobs more easy and to

be included in another training or vocational education. UNASM regu-

larly invites the Ministry of labor and social policy to take part in these

educational programmes for support of young people and their future.

On 6th and 7th September, 2014, in Tirana, Re-

public of Albania, the regular 6th Congress of

the Albanian trade union BSPSH took place.

The activities that have been performed and

that are to be performed in future were high-

lighted at the Congress related to establishing

social dialogue and more active youth employment policy. UNASM was the only

trade union from Macedonia with which BSPSH cooperates on regular basis re-

garding promotion and advancement of social dialogue in both countries, and as

such UNASM has its delegation attending the Congress. The president of UN-

ASM, Mr. Slobodan Antovski in his speech at the Congress said that the coop-

eration and friendship with our partners from the region is going to continue in

future with an aim to introduce measures for decent life or workers, better

social dialogue and establishing network for realization of future trade union

activities for support of young people and women. Mrs. Divna Zmejkovska, vice

president of UNASM, also attended the event.

6th Congress of BSPSH in Tirana

Active youth for better future!

September– December

2014

Year 2015, no.13

UNASM Newsletter

CONTENTS

CNV visits UNASM 2-5

ILO– social dialogue 3

Humanitarian action of

UNASM

5

EZA cooperation 6-7

UNASM’s activities 8

Activities of WTUO 9-11

Activities of YTUO 12-

15

Activities of RO UN-

ASM Ohrid

16

WTUO for better so-

cial conditions

16

Activities of RO UN-

ASM Prilep

17

Electronic

informant

Slobodan Aantovski

President of UNASM

UNASM full member of:

In the middle of October,

2014, representative of the

National federation of

Christian trade unions-

CNV Internationaal from

the Netherlands visited

UNASM from the Republic

of Macedonia. The aim of

this visit was to see the re-

sults and situation of the

PME programme for the pe-

riod from 2014 until 2016,

a programme supported by

CNV Internationaal. Slobo-

dan Antovski, president of

UNASM, pointed out that

the programme was very

well received by the mem-

bers and is realized with

positive and trade union

spirit and that is of crucial

importance for future UN-

ASM members who ac-

knowledge and know UN-

ASM by its activities imple-

mented on national and in-

ternational level. Mr. Jan

Ridder, programme officer

in CNV Internationaal

pointed out that the part-

nership between CNV In-

ternationaal and UNASM is

in a good direction and will

continue in future via es-

tablishing more comprehen-

sive cooperation for reali-

zation of more advanced

programmes in the interest

of workers, youngsters and

women.

Page.2 UNASM Newsletter

CNV Internationaal visits UNASM

Work meeting in UNASM’s office with Mr. Jan Ridder and representatives of the

Coordinative Board of UNASM, regional organizations (Prilep, Skopje and Ohrid)

and women and youth organizations. New activities realized within the PME

programme (2014-2016) were highlighted at the meeting supported by the National

federation of Christian trade unions of the Netherlands- CNV Internationaal.

The importance of the implementa-

tion of the programme and the coop-

eration with CNV Intenrationaal

were main topics at the meeting, as

well as the role of UNASM in the

country, particularly in the field of

legal regulation, protection of work-

ers, role of women and youngsters in

the society, social dialogue, mobbing,

discrimination and labor exploita-

tion.

In cooperation and coordination of

UNASM with the employees in the

Dutch Embassy in the Republic of

Macedonia a visit of UNASM’s rep-

resentatives was organized. Apart

from the ambassador, Mr. Joop

Scheffers, the president of UN-

ASM, Mr. Slobodan Antovski, the

vice president of UNASM, Mrs.

Divna Zmejkovska and CNV’s pro-

gramme officer, Mr. Jan Ridder at-

tended the meeting.

Year 2015, no.13

ILO promotes the project on social dialogue

UNASM visits Dutch Embassy in the

Republic of Macedonia

Page 3

The project “Promotion of social dia-

logue” financed by EU via IPA compo-

nent for human resources develop-

ment 2007-2013 that is to be imple-

mented in a period of 24 months was

promoted in Macedonia. The support

of social dialogue is between the gov-

ernment, employers and trade union

organizations. The project will be im-

plemented by the International Labor

Organization (ILO) and social partners

in Macedonia.

On 27th of October, 2014, Mr. Jan

Ridder, programme officer in CNV

International visited UNASM’s re-

gional office in Prilep. Mr. Milcho

Smilevski, secretary general of

UNASM, attended the meeting.

Mr. Goce Blazeski, graduated law-

yer, presented the activities and

results of the textile programme

within the project “Trade union or-

ganization of textile workers in

Prilep” for 2014 which is part of

the PME programme.

Mr. Zarko Gjorgjievski, coordinator of the youth section within RO UNASM Prilep at-

tended the meeting and said that the

situation of youngsters in Macedonia is

not very well due to the high unemploy-

ment rate, even though positive pro-

grammes and measures are offered by

the Employment Agency. Young people

are facing with great problems when

searching jobs in the local community.

Furthermore, Mr. Ridder met the

president of the Independent police

trade union, Mr. Kronislav Mantaroski

who pointed out the problems of police

officers among which the biggest problem is that the state institutions in Macedonia

refuse to register this trade union.


CNV Internationaal visits UNASM’s regional

offices

Mr. Ridder along with UNASM’s representatives while in Prilep had the possibility to meet the

manager of the textile company “Comfy Angel”, Mrs. Biljana Jandreoska. Protection of workers,

the activities of the Council for safety at work, trade union organization, and cooperation with

UNASM was some of the topics that were tackled during the meeting. The manager of the com-

pany pointed out that workers are organized in workers’ council which role is to hear workers’

problems and to find solution together with the team of the company.

Year 2015, no.13

Humanitarian action of UNASM in Prilep

CNV Internationaal visits UNASM’s regional

offices

Page 5

RO UNASM Prilep, association “Prerodba”,

“Gjorche Petrov” school, “Videlina” and “Pet do

dvanaest” on 25th of December, 2014 organized

humanitarian action entitled “The greatness of

a man is seen by his humanity” that took place

in the premises of “Trizla”. The aim of was to

help families and workers at social risk. The vice

president of UNASM, Mrs. Divna Zmejkovska

attended the event and said that these activi-

ties are part of UNASM’s programme and in fu-

ture are going to be supported so that social responsibility of employers is tackled as well.

In the period from 10th until 12th of September a regional seminar on: “Role of workers in

the process of creation and implementation of new structural policies and social re-

forms in the Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro” took place in Ohrid. Mr. Robert

Weber also took part in this event.

Page 6 UNASM Newsletter

UNASM continues its cooperation with EZA

In the period from 9th until the 11th

of October, 2014, UNASM organ-

ized regional seminar entitled:

“Let’s talk about young generation!

Possible solutions and strategies

about how to handle youth unem-

ployment in the region and in the

EU member states”. The seminar

took place in Ohrid. Guests: Mr.

Rober Weber from EZA, Germany

and Konstantin Petkovski, PhD.

Year 2015, no.13 Page 7

UNASM continues its cooperation with EZA

UNASM organized a regional seminar on: “Decent work of police officers- experiences from

Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania”. The seminar took place in Strumica in the period from 11th

until the 14th of December, 2014 and was supported by CNV Internationaal from the Nether-

lands. Representatives of the Independent police trade union of Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania

attended the seminar. The president of the Independent police trade union (IPTU) within UN-

ASM, Mr. Kronislav Manataroski said that the situation in Macedonia is very desperate having in

mind the fact that even though in the Republic of Macedonia there is legal regulation, they are

facing refusals when it comes to registration and reregistration of their trade union. Even

though a lot of measures have been undertaken, there is no response from the institutions.

When it comes to the topic he pointed out that the conditions in which police officers work in

Macedonia are far from decent. Frosina T. Remenski, Head of the police science department

within the Faculty of Safety in Skopje, was one of the lecturer of the educational sessions.


UNASM’s activities

WTUO- UNASM at the beginning of the month of December, 2014 organized educational semi-

nar on: “Discrimination and mobbing” that took place in Skopje. The educational seminar is part

of the Women’s programme supported by CNV Internationaal from the Netherlands. Represen-

tatives of different trade union organizations attended the event. Within the Ministry of labor

and social policy a Commission for protection from discrimination was established that acts as

legal entity. During 2012, 75 petitions were submitted to the Commission, while in 2013, 84 pe-

titions were submitted most of which were in the field of labor and labor relations. According

to the information of the Commission that is published on its webpage it is said that in Mace-

donia the discrimination is present with 86%. Discrimination is present with young population

on the basis of gender, nationality, faith. Mobbing, as one of the most frequent problems that

occur at the workplace was also a topic tackled at the seminar. Mobbing is defined as repeated

psychological harassment that is aimed to degrade worker’s conditions that can result in as-

sault and damage to human rights and human dignity, to be detrimental to victim’s physical and

psychological health and to compromise the life and professional future of the victim. Lidija

Pavikj and Biljana Stramshak Gjurovska, PhD, were lecturers at this event.


WTUO’s ACTIVITIES-UNASM

WTUO and YTUO within UNASM organized public debate on: “Human rights protection with

special accent put on domestic violence victims” that took place on 10th of December in Prilep.

The new Law on domestic violence prevention that entered into force on the 1st of January,

2015 including changes and amendments in the Criminal code was one of the main points of dis-

cussion. More than 230 procedures have been initiated in 2014 related to domestic violence. In

the municipality of Prilep, family violence increased for 5 percent which is an alarming situation.

We also have to accentuate protection of children, young and sick people who are facing this

problem. Establishing good communication and cooperation with the institutions, civil organiza-

tions and trade unions will get us closer to a solution to the problem and will offer protection

and support of domestic violence victims. The debate is part of the International days for pro-

tection of women from domestic violence. Snezana Jovanovska, director of the Social affairs

center in Prilep, Stojan Mishev from the ESE association from Skopje and Divna Zmejkovska,

operator at the SOS hotline for domestic violence 15700.



In November, 2014, WTUO organized focus groups on the following topics: “Multiculturalism

for better economic situation with particular accent on the labor market” and

“Harassment at the workplace” that took place in Skopje. At the first focus group it was

stated that multiculturalism and its descriptive significance is widely accepted. To say that

one society is multicultural it means that that particular society is specified with cultural vari-

ety. The normative significance of multiculturalism refers to possible ways of social cohesion

that has cultural and social economic difference as basic concepts that are directed towards

workers, employers and tries to understand the results coming from salary changes, employ-

ment changes and changes in the income. The second focus group was more dedicated to har-

assment at the workplace that is defined as improper, immoral and impolite behavior that is

detrimental for personal dignity, particularly when manifested by threatening, degradation

and humiliation. One or more persons may be the ones who behave improperly regardless of

whether it comes to employers, physical person, worker, legal entity, group of workers or

third person that the employer contacts with. The Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia

adopted the Law on protection of harassment at the workplace in 2013. Biljana Chklamovska,

graduated lawyer, was moderator of the focus groups.



In October, 2014 YTUO organized educational seminar on: “Socio-economic situation of young

people in Macedonia”. Main topic discussed at the seminar was the role of young people in trade un-

ion organization in Macedonia, factors that contribute to unequal positioning on the labor market-

ex. Roma people, education and labor market, active youth employment programmes and measures

and inclusion of young people at the labor market and rights and obligation of young workers in ac-

cordance with the Labor code. Some of the benefits from this educational seminar include more at-

tractive youth at the labor maker, proving economic measures and active inclusion of local communi-

ties. The seminar was held in the period from 14th until 16th October, 2014 in Krushevo. Representa-

tives of UNASM’s youth sections from the regional offices Prilep and Skopje, representatives of

SSM and KSS and representatives of civil organizations attended the event. Olivera Stavrova, rep-

resentative of the labor department within the Ministry of Labor and social policy, Gocel Blazheski,

lawyer, Toni Joveski, lawyer and Violeta Angeleska, lawyer, Nesime Salioska- NGO Roma SOS were

lecturers at the seminar.


Activities of YTUO-UNASM

In November and December, 2014 three educational info sessions on: “Safety and health of young

workers in the agricultural sector” were organized. The aim of these info days was for young work-

ers to get familiar with their protection at workplace while working with tractors and other ma-

chines, as well as getting young people acquainted with legal regulation on safety and health at the

workplace in the agricultural sector. Young workers from the agricultural sector attended these info

days. The info days were organized in the following periods: from 21st until 22nd November, 2014 and

5th of December, 2014. The info days were organized in three municipalities: Prilep, Gevgelija and

Vinica. Lecturers: Stevka Basheska- Bozhinoska from the Association for protection at workplace

“28mi April” from Skopje, Dragi Taneski, PhD, professor at the faculty of food and agricultural sci-

ences within the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius Skopje, Slobodan Antovski- president of UN-

ASM, Slavica Jankova and Nikola Georgiev.



In December, YTUO organized educational seminar on: “Youth and the agricultural sector”.

Carefully chosen topics were included in the seminar that were compatible with the profiles of

the people attending the seminar. Main topics discussed at the seminar were in the field of ag-

riculture which is result 2 of the youth programme putting an accent to health and safety of

young workers in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, the active programmes and measures

for development of agriculture were discussed and special accent was put on young people, in-

tegral technique in contemporary agricultural production, GMO- advantages and risks and influ-

ence of insects on agricultural products. Having this educational seminar is of great benefit for

all target groups, particularly for young people as direct participants in the agricultural sector.

The participants at the seminar said that more attention should be paid to expanding their

knowledge and experience that will be transferred from theory to practice. This educational

seminar was organized in the period from 15th until 17th of December, 2014 in Negotino. Repre-

sentatives of SOU “Orde Chopela” – Prilep, SZU “Gjorche Petrov” – Kavadarci and members of

the youth section RO UNASM Prilep attended the seminar. Lecturers: Zvonko Pacanoski, PhD,

Stanislava Lazarevska, PhD, Ile Canev, PhD at the Faculty of food and agricultural sciences

within the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje and Zlatko Penkov from Negotino.



Youth Trade Union Organization- UNASM and Youth section within RO UNASM Prilep organized

educational workshop on: “Writing a CV, writing motivation letter and interview” that took

place on 7th October, 2014. The educational workshop is part of the activities within PME’s

youth programme 2014-2016. The aim of the project is to help young population to improve

youth policies and legal regulations in Macedonia. Workshop’s programme was more interactive

so that young people can be better included in the agenda. In the first session career directions

was the main topic and career prospects and job search was explained via writing a CV and re-

lated to this Europass and EU CV format were presented. The second session of the workshop

included writing a motivational letter within which several techniques for writing this kind of

letter were covered. Furthermore, there was a presentation on how young people should prepare

when having a job interview. Participants were rather active and gave a lot of creative feed-

backs when talking about job interviews. The workshop took place in Prilep. Educators: Emilija

Nikoloska- Jordanoski and Zarko Gjorgjievski, civil activists.



RO UNASM Ohrid in 2014 organized the English language course that was dedicated to tourist

workers. Workers in this sector show great interest in learning the English language. After finishing

the course each participant acquires a certificate. A group for taxi drivers in Ohrid who will attend

such course was formed and they also showed great interest in the course. In the following period

RO Ohrid will help taxi drivers from different companies to form trade union organization on re-

gional level.


Activities of RO UNASM Ohrid

RO UNASM Ohrid and the civil organiza-

tion “Better future” from Ohrid on 20th

September, 2014 signed a Cooperation

memorandum. The aim of this memoran-

dum is to help citizens on regional level to

improve the social and legal protection by

undergoing educational activities related

to protection from domestic violence,

discrimination, mobbing and other activi-

ties.

WTUO signatory for informal network for better social services

WTUO in accordance with the women’s programme on 29th December, 2014 in Skopje

signed the Cooperation memorandum for establishing informal network for social ser-

vices promotion (IRIS-MK) along with another 13 civil organizations from the Republic of

Macedonia. The aim of the association is social services improvement for citizens at so-

cial risk.

The Regional office UNASM- Prilep while detecting the problems of textile industry in Prilep

and the need to help textile workers so that they can enjoy their legal rights in accordance with

the Law on labour relations and other laws in the labour field organized the project “Trade un-

ion organization of textile workers in Prilep” as part of the PME programme (2014-2016).

Textile workers were afraid of losing their jobs in textile companies and therefore they are not

organized and cannot exercise their rights guaranteed by law. Textile workers, particularly

women, are exploited to the maximum and they are receiving minimum wage. The aim of the pro-

ject is paid overtime work, respect of the Collective bargaining agreement signed with the em-

ployer and implementation of the Labor code by the employer. In September and October, 2014

RO UNASM Prilep organized three educational trainings dedicated to textile workers:

“Lobbying and lobbying techniques”, “Labor legislation and Collective bargaining agreements” and

“Negotiation and negotiation techniques”. Propaganda material was also prepared for the needs

of the project (leaflets, posters). The project is supported by CNV Internationaal. Lecturers:

Ubavka Shipinkoska, psychologist and Irena Sotiroska, lawyer.


Activities of RO UNASM Prilep

WWW.UNASMPP.WEEBLY.COM

WWW.OZUNASM.WEEBLY.COM

WWW.MSO-UNASM.MK

REGIONAL OFFICE UNASM DELCHEVO

St: “SVETOZAR MARKOVIKJ“ BB

9200 DELCHEVO, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Coordinator: Dimitar MOMCHILOV

Phone number: +38933410281

Email: [email protected]

REGIONAL OFFICE UNASM OHRID

BLVD TURISTICHKA REMIS 2 – LOCAL 3

6000 OHRID, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Coordinator: Blagoja IVANOSKI



REGIONAL ORGANIZTION UNASM PRILEP

St. „SOTKA GJORGJIOSKI“ BB

7500 PRILEP, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Coordinator: Goce BLAZESKI



REGIONAL OFFICE UNASM STRUGA

GRADSKI PAZAR BB (on floor)

6330 STRUGA, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Coordinator: Dragica POPOSKA



St: „Vasil Gjorgov“ no. 39, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Phone number: +38923230307 Email: [email protected]

For the publisher: Slobodan ANTOVSKI Publishes: UNASM Editor: Rubincho Arizankoski

UNION OF

INDEPENDENT

AUTONOMOUS TRADE

UNIONS OF MACEDONIA

Electronic informant UNASM Newsletter Email: [email protected]

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Unasm newsletter no 13 en