Skopje, 17 January 2024 (MIA) - Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Jovanka Trenchevska, met Wednesday with Gabriel Gualano de Godoy, the new UNHCR Representative for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in North Macedonia.

During the meeting, Trenchevska discussed the Ministry’s work and introduced the team that has been working on migration issues in the country since 1999, as reported by Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.

In discussing the years-long partnership, officially established through an official agreement since 2003, Trenchevska highlighted the significance of this being the first case where an international organization is directly involved in a contract with the Ministry.

Discussions during the meeting included both ongoing activities from the past and planned activities for the current year.

“Participants in the meeting emphasized their commitment to building the capacities of social workers in the migration sector, facilitating the integration of refugees into the country, and ensuring their participation in educational processes and the labour market,” reads the press release.

UNHCR Representative, Gabriel Gualano de Godoy, pointed out that the integration of refugees into the labour market should be seen as an opportunity to enhance their lives. He also emphasized that this approach would assist in meeting the demand for workers in the Macedonian job market.

He emphasized that North Macedonia serves as an example for other nations in tackling homelessness and undocumented individuals. As noted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, he underlined that the goal in the upcoming period is to meet all the needs of individuals included in the UNHCR agenda.

Photo: Ministry of Labour and Social Policy