New measures to promote employment in 2014 were presented today by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Dime Spasov to representatives of 40 member companies of the Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia.
The purpose of the presentation the companies to be directly introduced with the measures, active policies undertaken by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, together with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and Employment Agency, which are aimed at encouraging employment.
-Today we will present the new measure to encourage recruitment of young people up to 29 years before private companies, members of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce. The measure is significantly favorable to private companies, exemption from social contributions for 12 months or a total exemption to average gross salary in excess of 37 percent.
In just 4 days, 68 companies have applied for exploiting this advantage. This is a system measure which will continuously run for all private companies in the next two years, while the number of private companies that will submit an application, will employ young people and will use this advantage is expected to increase.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and Government, emphasized Spasov, we will continue the partnership with the private sector and also in cooperation with them will create and propose a number of measures that would facilitate or encourages employment in Macedonia.
- In recent years unemployment in Macedonia is reducing continuously, which is a positive trend. The data released by the State Statistical Office show that the unemployment is declined again, and I believe that these additional measures, including the measures and incentives for hiring young people up to 29 years, will significantly continue to decrease unemployment, pointed Spasov.
The Minister explained that the measure of employment of young persons under 29 years has a protective mechanism and does not allow abuse by the companies.
- Chamber of Commerce welcomes these initiatives because this is in the context of our attitudes and expectations in the context of increasing employment, particularly retention of young people, or reducing the outflow of young staff in Macedonia, said Elisaveta Gjorgjievska, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce.
This measure covers about 45000 unemployed young people, 20,000 of which are active jobseekers.