Skopje, 16 January 2023 (MIA) – Speaking at a press conference in the Government on Monday, Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska commented on the part regarding parental leave in the new draft law on labor relations, pointing out there will be no scrapping of workers’ rights.  

“There’s no scrapping of workers’ rights regarding parental leave. This means that the current maternity leave of nine months is not shortened, but we also give the opportunity for fathers to be involved in childcare. In the first two years after a child’s birth, we provide parental leave of four months. We have maternity leave of five months, i.e. the first five months after the child’s birth, and further four months of parental leave for the mother and four months of parental leave for the father. This means that the mother and father can use the parental leave at the same time or one after the other, depending on how the two parents agree,” said the Minister.  

In addition, she noted, the bill includes 15 days of paternity leave, i.e. 15 days from the day of birth if one child is born, and 20 days of paternity leave in case of twins or more children. In addition to this right, workers are entitled to unpaid leave of two months, for both parents, which can be used until the child is eight years old.  

“All this is done to make the opportunities and rights of women and men equal in the process of the labor market, so that fathers can also be involved in childcare and so that the access and career of women can be much easier while they are at work,” said Trenchevska.