From 31 May to 3 June 2017 took place in Stuga, FYR of Macedonia, a seminar within the EZA special project for workers' organisations in the Western Balkans "Strengthening social dialogue – shaping European integration", organized by YHACM - UNASM - UIATUM (Union of Independent Autonomous Trade Unions of Macedonia), with the support of EZA and of the European Union.
Participants were representatives of workers’ organisations of FYR of Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo and Bulgaria.
The aim of the seminar was to raise the awareness of the representatives of workers’ organisations and of other professionals in the field of LABOR RELATIONS, i.e. social partnership- participation of social partners in the development and implementation of structural reforms via exchange of experiences and practices from other countries from Western Balkan and the EU member states.
The law’s definition about social risks includes the following: health risks (illness, injury and disability); aging risks (aging and survival); maternity and family risks, unemployment risks and professional non-adjustment risks, and risk of not being adjusted to the social environment. Apart from the social protection and social security measures determined by law, the care of the state for preventing social risks is done via undertaking measures for creation of satisfactory jobs and the satisfaction is to be stimulated and work-life balance to be introduced, the fiscal policy to be changes as well as employment, scholarship policy, housing and family policy, healthcare system, education and other fields included in the law.
The legal regulation that covers the labor relations in Macedonia originates from the Constitution of the country, the relevant conventions of the International Labor Organization and the Labor Code.
At the seminar that took place in Podgorica, Montenegro from 20 until 22 February, 2017, and which was supported by EZA and the EU it was clear that there is still need for strengthening of social dialogue in the Western Balkans region. This was particularly noticed from the trust issue between the social partners, the representation in a pluralistic society, creating and maintaining the legally bonding frameworks, as well as better training for the trade union members.
The situation in this field is deteriorated by the political events in the Western Balkans countries that influences the politics, on trade unions and employers and the ignorant attitude towards the trade unions and the workers. The refugee crisis also played a great role in the situation.
The programme of the seminar included the following topics:
Presentation of the project and the programme and the commitments of EZA for strengthening the organizations- members of EZA, and the need of strengthening the trade union of the Western Balkan countries is necessary, first and foremost because of the political events that affect the work of trade unions and make it more difficult, said Slobodan Antovski.
Clauses for trade union security and the relation of organized versus unorganized workers: Who has to bear the costs for the collective bargaining agreements and to whom the collective bargaining agreements are applying to? These questions were raised by Prof. Dr.Aleksandar Ristovski and prof. Dr.Todor Kalamatiev,UKIM University St.Cyril and Methodious- Skopje, Faculty of Law- Justinian I.
Clauses for assuring trade unions and their obligation to reinforce the trade union organization are existing, but they are often contrary to the individual rights of the workers.
Policies and mechanisms to create a good social dialogue by competent institutions – was the title of the presentation of Orhan Sherifi, labor sector Representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. It included the measures and policies that the Ministry as a competent authority adopted, but it does not supervise their implementation due to the political situation that lingers for a long period. -.
Differences and similarities of social dialogue in the EU integration process between employers organizations and trade unions were shown by Mile Boskov, President of Business Confederation of Macedonia.He said that as trade unions, the employers are also facing certain problems. The minimum wages on the Balkans are at the lowest level, and the influence of trade unions and employer’s organizations is the least felt.
Ivanka Trajkovska, President of SUTKOS - Confederation of Free Trade Unions (KSS) held a presentation about the role of Trade Unions in strengthening of social dialogue. She said that the trade union membership is declining in her trade union as well, but apart from the the lack of cooperation of trade unions, the basic problem are located in the confederations themselves. They have no transparency in their work, no trade union activities and politicized trade unions are existing, which are standing on the government’s side instead of working for the benefit of the workers.
The role of trade unions in strengthening the social dialogue is аn important factor of the EU Member States experiences, said Andrey Andreev, President of the regional Trade Union of MZ PODKREPA BULGARIA. The social dialogue is a basic element and was fully acknowledged in the Agreement from Maastricht. Social partners should have the possibility to contribute to the active implementation of the European social politics. The social dialogue in Bulgaria is two -partite and tripartite. The inclusion of the Social policy treaty in the Agreement of the EC after the Treaty of Maastricht entered into force has assured a uniformed framework of the social dialogue in the EU. The negotiation process can last up to nine months.
Rade Nenadikj, representative of the Temporary Employment Agency, said that the Economic and Social Council is not an independent body because it does not have its own premises, it does not have any finances, the representatives of the ministries have the main influence and they compose the majority of the Economic and Social Council. The social dialogue does not function. The business in the Republic of Macedonia survives from today to tomorrow and longterm plans are not made.
The signed collective bargaining agreements cover only 1/3 of the workers, while the other 2/3 is not covered.
Obstacles of trade unions in the region for having good social dialogue:
Difficult political situation with changing governments in some of the countries in the region and the often inadmissible intervention of governments in the social dialogue. Specific challenges of the trade union work, among which the minimum wages, threatened livelihoods, long-term unemployment, reduced numbers of members, problems when recruiting new members and media hostility to trade unions were highlighted were some of the statements given by the following penalists:
Divna Zmejkovska, vice president of UNASM and president of the Women’s Trade Union Organization, Mr. Gezim Kalaja, President of BSPSH Albania, Cedomir Bracanovic President of Independent Trade Union of information, graphics and publishing -Trade Union Association of Montenegro, Shaban Tasholi President of Independent Police Trade Union, Kosovo, Dragana Gjogjevic, Trade Union Association-Serbia, Marija Martinic NEZAVISNOST, Serbia.
The representatives of the Western Balkans countries agreed that we are all sharing more or less the same problems. In all the countries there are more trade unions and declining membership. The number of employed people declines. Every change introduced to the Labor Code reduces the workers’ rights. There is no professional staff in the trade unions. The EU norms are not applied. There is no Healthcare protection law in Kosovo. The Economic and Social Councils are only formal bodies and include trade unions established by the governments so that they would act like partners when adopting harmful collective bargaining agreements. The efficiency of the social dialogue is formalized and estimation is made according to the number of sessions held. The adopted laws are not implemented. The media are not interested in these problems because they are not independent, but under a political influence even though the people who work in the media are working under bad working conditions. The youth and women organizations within the trade unions are only formally established.
Conclusions:
1. It is necessary to strengthen the social dialogue and to make a comparison of positive and negative practices that would help a model to be built that would be suitable to the situation of the labor market. The presence of more social partners from EU countries in the Western Balkan region will contribute to build a real model of high quality social dialogue.
2. Trade unions should apply strategies and programmes and to make efforts for aknowledging and understanding of the needs of young people and directing the social resources towards fullfilling this aim.
3. Strengthening the moral and spiritual values of the workers.
4. Encouraging the workers to become members of trade unions via greater publicity for the role of the trade union.
5, Commitments for respecting the basic principles of trade unions: solidarity, equality, humanity and social justice, equal housing possibilities and care and protection of the family
6. Joining and undertaking concrete activities of trade unions from the region without political influence, nor influence from a political party and signing a declaration for acting and cooperation with the support of EZA and other international organizations
7. Education of the members
In accordance with the strategic goals for improving the conditions on the labor market, the participants of this seminar will dedicate their work to improve the possibilities for men and women to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equality, security and human dignity, as well as activities to return the trust in trade unions. The main objective is promotion of the workers’ rights, encouraging the possibilities for decent employment and improving the social protection.
The experiences and practices of other countries motivate to move forward. The aim of these countries is the same, but still every country should follow its road with the hope to avoid the dead-end that other countries face.