The 2022 Operational Plan for active employment measures and programmes, which has been presented on Tuesday, covers 14,685 unemployed persons, MIA informs.
1.8 billion denars or €30 million have been allocated for the plan, which represents an increase of €5 million compared to 2021. The 2022 Operational Plan will focus on young unemployed people aged up to 29, long-term unemployed persons and guaranteed minimum assistance beneficiaries. The first public calls for the measures will be issued on April 5.
“The goal of the Operational Plan is to provide better and easier access to the labour market to the various vulnerable categories of unemployed, young people, women, people with disabilities, beneficiaries of social cash benefit assistance and unemployed persons whose employment was terminated during the crisis caused by the coronavirus,” Labour Minister Jovanka Trenchevska said at today’s presentation.
She informed that for some of the active measures, which refer to vulnerable categories of unemployed, was expanded, and the measure to support job creation through green investments is implemented for the first time in cooperation with UNDP.
“Green investments refer to investment activities that are aligned with eco-friendly business policies and preserving the natural resources. For the implementation of the measure, which consists of three components: financial support, support for vocational training for green skills and support for advisory services for green investments, we provided Mden 26,638,000 to cover 312 people,” Trenchevska said.
She also said that the implementation of the self-employment programme or support for the unemployed in starting their own business is to resume and the amount of financial support is €5,000 or €10,000, if two partners establish the legal entity.
This measure provides funds for 2,000 direct jobs in the amount of 672 million denars, or around €10.9 million or €2.6 million more than last year, she added.
“Through the Operational Plan, we reduce youth unemployment, but at the same time, by maintaining continuity in the implementation of the measure, advanced IT skills training provides sustainable, high-paying and attractive jobs in the country which is reflected in their motivation to stay in the country. Aware of the new needs on the labour market for this year, we provided 424 trainings for advanced IT skills for unemployed young people,” Trenchevska said.
The internship measure has been expanded and will cover 1,620 unemployed people aged up to 34 to employers from the private sector, but also in civil society organizations. The implementation of the measure of youth allowance continues, with which 3,000 denars per month will be paid to 3,500 young people aged up to 23 employed in production. UNDP Resident Representative in North Macedonia, Armen Grigoryan said that Covid-pandemic has affected societies in terms of gender, education and labour market opportunities.
“Unfortunately, North Macedonia is no exception to this, although unemployment in the country is declining, weak labor market activity and the capacity to create sustainable jobs are features of the Macedonian economy that is becoming even more visible in Covid and post-Covid times. The government, private sector and all stakeholders need to act in partnership to create a resilient economy, a common agenda for sustainable development, inclusive growth boosting social and economic development and realizing some of the goals for sustainable development,” Grigoryan said.
Employment Service Agency head Bekim Murati said that 2022 Operational Plan for active measures and programmes amounts 1.8 billion denars and is intended for 15,000 unemployed people.
The European Union has declared 2022 the Year of Youth, stressing the importance of young people in building a better future. North Macedonia joined such efforts through a number of activities, Murati said, mentioning the Youth Guarantee measure, which has been implementing for four years in the country.
This Plan, according to Murati, also contains measures that provide support for the creation of new jobs such as measures to subsidize wages and employment and growth of legal entities through which it is planned to directly employ 1,790 people.
Three principles will be respected in the implementation of the employment measures under the 2022 Operational Plan, faster return to work of people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, diversity and inclusion and balanced regional development.
