Skopje, 26 September 2023 (MIA) – Most labor rights violations registered in the country since 2021 were related to unpaid wages and wage supplements. However, recently there has also been a rise in complaints related to workplace harassment, said the head of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM), Slobodan Trendafilov, and the Director of the State Labor Inspectorate, Vesna Tomovska, at a joint press conference Tuesday.

At the press conference, Trendafilov informed that SSM has been digitizing its union services and the provision of free legal aid in the past 18 months. The “SSM – My Labor Rights” application, created with the support of the International Labor Organization, and improved with the support of their colleagues from the European Trade Union Confederation, has allowed SSM to, above all, reach young people, said Trendafilov.

According to Trendafilov, since 2021, SSM has provided free legal aid and protection for 23.283 workers, who contacted them through the application.

Trendafilov added that since 2021, the majority of labor rights violations are related to unpaid wages and wage supplements, especially the annual leave allowance.

With the memorandum signed between SSM and the Labor Inspectorate, Trendafilov said the positions of both parties have been strengthened in the process of promoting and protecting labor rights.

The head of the State Labor Inspectorate, Tomovska, said that in the past six months they’ve carried out 10.886 inspections, of which 1.555 were upon complaints and initiatives submitted by workers.

Photo/Video: MIA