During the two national panel discussions, the partners focussed on situation in their respective countries, discussing mainly the adaptation of social dialogue to changes in employment and work and related challenges, such as the changes in labour legislation and modernisation of the labour market, flexicurity, skills, quality of work and decent work.
PANEL DISCUSSION, Skopje, FYR Macedonia, 3 October 2012
The panel discussion “Strengthening the social dialogue in Macedonia with the labour market modernization using the European experience« was attended by 21 participants. The participants were representatives of the employers’ organisations, trade unions, companies and employment agency service. The following topics were covered:
- Characteristics and current problems on the Labour Market and Social Dialogue in Macedonia
- Situation of the Labour Market – modernization by social dialogue development
- The situation of the Social Dialogue in the retail sector and in the agronomy sector
One of the topics discussed was the implementation of the Law on minimal wage, its effects and amendments in the Labour Code. The results from the research on implementation of the Law on Minimal Wage, which were presented during the event, show that the implementation of the law didn’t cause any negative consequences.
The trade unions stressed that now when we are coping with a financial crisis the Trade Unions and the Employers should create autonomous negotiation sphere that will come out with solutions and mutual policy proposals.
The importance of collaboration among employers and trade unions was stressed in order to coordinate and solve open issues in sectors concerned. In terms of lack of food on the global market, there is an opportunity for increasing the agronomy in FYR Macedonia because they are capable to produce large amounts of food (for national needs and export), however, certain government initiatives are necessary.
Almost all of the participants evaluated the event as successful. They also commented that ORM should talk more about the way of payment for working on national holidays. The organisation, logistics, content and information very evaluated as very good.
PANEL DISCUSSION, Podgorica, Montenegro, 4 December 2012
There were 25 participants at the panel discussion ‘’Strenghtening social dialogue in agriculture, food-processing and trade sectors in Montenegro’’ and they were representatives of Montenegrin employers federation, Montenegrin companies, members of UPCG and trade unions.
The main topics were:
- Social dialogue in agriculture and food-processing in Montenegro – employers’ view;
- Social dialogue in agriculture and food-processing in Montenegro – trade unions view;
- Social dialogue in trade sector in Montenegro – employers’ view;
- Social dialogue in trade sector in Montenegro – trade unions view;
- Current economic situation in trade, agriculture and food-processing sectors in Montenegro;
- Main barriers for development of social dialog in Montenegro in these sectors.
The main conclusion of the panel discussion was that this project can help improve future social dialog in these sectors and that it is a good starting point for further cooperation between employers and trade unions. This is especially true for trade sector where there is no representative Trade union in Montenegro. So, both Trade unions asked UPCG to be a partner and to support and help process of getting a quorum for representativeness.
On the other side, the main problem in agriculture is on one hand a very bad economic situation in this sector and very low level of subventions for the employers in this sector. On the other hand, the main problem for representatives of Trade union in this sector is lack of Trade unions in small agriculture companies.
The project is co-funded by the European Commission.