YEAR 2011, NO.03
APRIL—MAY 2011
UNASM newsletter E
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SOCIAL DIALOGUE IS THE WAY TOWARDS THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS
CONTENT
-Social dialogue is the way towards the European institutions -ITUC with two associate members -Regional project -Dissatisfaction with the workplace damages mental health -Advice people
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young
-Interview with the President of SOOZ within UNASM, Mrs. Divna Zmejkovska -Legal Aid
UNASM in cooperation with EZA realized the seminar “Right to assemble-important factor for good social dialogue” , also supported by the European Commission. This seminar was held from 27th to 30th April, 2011 in Hotel Klimetica, Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia. Very important elements concerning the social partners’ right to assemble were highlighted through mechanisms meant for implementation of the social dialogue. The right to assemble is an active process by which trade unions and employers` associations assemble on a higher level in order
to unify the workers’ interests because workers exercise all rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to trade unions and employers’ associations. Here included, harmonization and accomplishment of certain activities with the aim to protect and promote economic and social rights, i.e. the interests of workers and employers through leading a harmonized economic, developing and social policy for encouraging social dialogue and concluding collective agreements and their harmonization through the Economic and social council. Participants made their own contribution in the realization of this seminar which had a crucial meaning for trade unions and employers in terms of encouraging social dialogue among them, as well as the cooperation with the institutions which protect workers. Trade unions’ representatives, as well as representatives of the employers’ associations attended the seminar. Concerning the trade union organizations, there were representatives from Macedonia (SSM, KSS-SONK, UNASM), Kosovo (BSKP), Bulgaria (Promayana), and representatives of the employers’ associations ORM, Business Confederation of Macedonia and representatives of the Ministry of labour and social policy of RM. Experts of this seminars came from EZA, Germany and Romania.
ITUC “enriched itself” with two associate members from Macedonia On the 7th of March 2011, the Union of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) and the Confederation of Free Trade Unions became associate members of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). With the activities it has, ITUC tries to promote workers’ rights, protection of economic and social rights, equality, fight against discrimination and increase of the active international solidarity. As full member of the International Trade Union Confederation, UNASM unselfishly supported and lobbied for the entrance of these Macedonian trade unions in ITUC as associate members.
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U N A S M
NEW SL ET T ER
U N A S M I S P A R T O F T H E R E G I O N A L P R O J E C T “ D E C E N T W O R K O N T H E B A L K A N S ” On the 31st of March, 2011 in the premises of UNASM, a work meeting on social democracy was held with the representatives of PROGRES – Institute. The regional coordinator of OLOF PALME International Center, Miss Lejla Hastor attended this meeting, as well as the representatives of UNASM. The realization of the regional project “Decent work on the Balkans” which is performed in cooperation with PROGRES was the main subject of the meeting.
The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacities in the area of working relations so that trade unions, non-governmental organizations and other organizations are taken as target groups. UNASM took into consideration the possibility to take part in this project performed by PROGRES and decided to do so, and the responsibilities and modes in which the realization of the activities is going to be performed by the trade union were determined at the meeting.
D i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h t h e w o r k p l a c e d a m a g e s m e n t a l h e a l t h
DAILY going to work that you do not like, responding to demanding tasks, the complexity and perception of unjust income allocation damage health more than unemployment. The most recent study shows that work that makes us dissatisfied and that is not compatible with our personality is more dangerous to our health than being at home and doing nothing. Until now, it was considered that paid work place is closely related to the defining role, time structure, aim and mental health, but scientists from the Australian university in Canberra claim that day-to-day performance of tasks we do not like is more dangerous to health than unemployment that is responsible for losing the personal role and the point of the day-to-day activities. According to the research, people who are having work they are not satisfied with, have their mental health decreased because the numerous unfavorable working conditions factors are directly connected to mental health. A comparison is made in the research between the mental health of unemployed people and the mental health of employed people and the results obtained were very interesting. By measuring the working conditions quality, it has been affirmed that bad working conditions often cause depression and anxiety. It was also affirmed that obtaining a job that one has wanted to have, besides bringing pleasure, it improves mental health, while bad working quality and general dissatisfaction with the work place in a certain period of time damages the mental health of the person far more than the unemployment. The text is taken from the newspaper Spic
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Advice for young people
YOUR RIGHTS LEAD TO SAFER AND HEALTHY WORK
Rubincho Arizankoski National youth coordinator of YTUO within UNASM
„Annually, in Europe, hundreds of thousands young people are victims of injuries or health problems caused at the work place“
If you have accident at work or something happens that would damage your health while working, you may need to live with consequences for the rest of your life which is not a joke. As young person who has just begun working, you may be exposed to risk if you are not physically and mentally capable or if you have not yet turned 18. The law protects you from working at potentially dangerous places. Health and safety are not only part of boring rules. They are made to keep you safe and healthy now and to protect your health in future, so that you can fully enjoy your life. You should not expose to risks and extreme work. That is why you should know something about health and safety at the work place, what should your employer do in order to protect you and what you can do and of course you should know your rights. Employers have legal and moral obligation to protect you. They have to identify the dangers at the work place, to assess the possible risks, and to undertake precautionary measures. Danger refers to everything that can cause sickness or injury. Risk is the probability that that would happen. Problems include noise, contact with chemicals, even mobbing by the managers or other workers. Employers are also obliged to ensure specific protection for group of workers that are especially exposed to a risk, including young people. If you are younger than 18, you are guaranteed with special protection. More concretely, you must not have job that: -demands more than your physical and psychological capacities, - includes protection from toxic substances, - does not include exposure to extreme temperatures, noises or vibrations etc. Unless you have turned 18, it is necessary that you have a professional training and to be under surveillance and the employer is the one who is supposed to ensure proper protection. But, the employer is not always responsible for your safety, because having a job is not a game. According to the law you must take care of yourself and the others and to cooperate with your employer when health and safety are concerned.
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U N A S M
NEW SL ET T ER
Interview with the president of the Women’s Trade Union Organization within the Union of Independent and Autonomous Trade Unions of Macedonia. Mrs. Divna Zmejkovska -Promotion and advancement of women’s human rights and gender equality; -Socialization and emancipation of family violence victims, as well as women’s trafficking victims; The president of the Women’s Trade Union Organization within UNASM, Mrs. Divna Zmejkovska, is an active member in the civil sector and trade union organization, works in the National SOS line that provides help for family violence victims within the Women’s Organization of the City of Skopje. As fighter for women’s rights, she participates in the promotion and advancement of women in trade union organizations, as well as in legal regulations that refer to workers.
Mrs. Divna ZMEJKOVSKA President of SOOZ within UNASM
„ Violence against men is smaller compared to violence against women“ - says Zmejkovska
Mrs. Zmejkovska, do women in Macedonia reach the level of equality that exists in Europe? The law on equal chances offers a legal framework which is quite good, but women must do something by themselves in order to protect their rights. The research we carried out in 2009 showed that in a great number of cases women have a great logistical support by men, but sometimes women do not support enough other women. We should do our best and work more on ourselves and for ourselves. Which are the main problems that Macedonian family faces today? The main reason is the problem with the social security system. Great number of other problems comes from bad economic situation. It is an old problem which not only is unmanageable, but according to the data it is getting deeper and more serious. What worries us is the increasing percent of women that consume alcohol. That should also be paid attention to because in many situations it leads to further problems, especially to family violence. Is the number of abused women growing? Generally yes, but that is because today this topic is very talked about and great number of such cases were recorded. Typically, help is asked for by women from the lower social class, than those from the upper classes due to their already built authority which hinders them to mention this problem outside their houses. They doubt institutions’ discretion that is key factor for successful fight against these problems. For example, if we take into consideration the violence in schools that is very often in schools, the child – victim should not notice that someone is actually trying to help him or her. Otherwise, there might be a contra effect – the victim may become even more introvert and there even may be an attempt of suicide. Are there any cases of violence against men? Absolutely. It is just that in that case it is not any more about psychological violence but about physical violence. Anyway, the number of men who are victims does not differ a lot from the number of women who are victims. According to my field researches, that ratio is 60:40.
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Are institutions equipped and trained enough to protect those who need help? Generally, the competence of the stuff is incontestable, but material conditions and problems with not enough space contribute to not getting wanted results. That is why nongovernmental organizations offer their help which includes social worker, psychologist, physicians etc. It was announced that ministries will open this kind of services within nongovernmental organizations, that will take some time, but I think that it is feasible. The ministries for health, labour and social policy and home affairs have signed protocols with nongovernmental sector that define the competences of all those included in the decision-making process on this topic. How can parents identify on time the potential problem of their children, especially when it is about prostitution and drug addiction? It is very important a normal child-parent relationship to be established. That is achieved when the child is still young. Maybe, if the child is free today, she/he will tell you something it is not supposed to be said, but, the next day, the same child will discover that that is actually important information. The greater number of youngsters that became part of prostitution or became drug addicts did not gain enough love from their parents. If, at least, one of the parents is dedicated, this kind of bad things would not happen to our young population. As far as first signals are taken into consideration, especially when noticed, that means that the problem has become very serious. If the child comes home with new trainers, trousers or good make-up, that have not been bought by you (the parents), then something serious is happening. They ask for help very late. That is why it is true that there are no bad children, but there are bad parents that have neglected their obligations as parents. Mrs. Zmejkovska, thank you for your time and we wish you a very successful career in future and fruitful work in the promotion and advancement of women’s rights. Thank you.
L E G A L
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UNASM – Regional organization Prilep offers legal aid to all of its members. This legal aid is performed and disposed directly by the qualified legal officer Goce Blazeski – coordinator of the office in Prilep in the premises of UNASM- regional organization Prilep. This legal aid is covered by the membership contributions of Prilep that enc los es the com m unities of Krushevo, Dolneni, Krivogashtani and Makedonski Brod. UNASM offers legal aid and trade union help to all of its members. The legal aid consists of: advices, opinions, prepared demands, complaints, appeals, submission, arrangements, missives to inspectors, missives to the public prosecutor and other types of legal aid. In the following period, the activities of UNASM- Regional organization Prilep will be directed towards application of
the labour relations law and paying attention to the signed collective agreements in order to: -stop further disregard of workers’ rights; -prepare trade union activities for legal regulation application, negotiation and concluding collective agreements; -protect trade union activities ; -exercise the rights guaranteed by the labour relations law; -strengthen the cooperation with the labour inspection services and -support finding a peaceful solution of conflicts referring to collective agreements with the participation of the social partners.
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REGINAL ORGANIZATION OF UNASM, DELCHEVO
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St: „Vasil Gorgov“ no.32, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Phone number: +38923230307 E-mail: info@unasm.org.mk Publisher: Sloodan ANTOVSKI Editor:
Rubincho АRIZANKOSKI
Electronic informant UNASM newsletter E-mail: unasmbilten@gmail.com
St: SVETOZAR MARKOVIC 92000 DELCHEVO, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA Coordinator: Dimitar Momchilov Phone number: +38933410281 E-mail: unasmdelcevo@yahoo.com REGINAL ORGANIZATION OF UNASM, OHRID BLVD. TURISTICKA building REMIS 2 – 3 6000 OHRID, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA Coordinator: Blagoja IVANOSKI Phone number:+38946251077 E-mail: unasm_ohrid@yahoo.com REGINAL ORGANIZATION OF UNASM, PRILEP St: „SOTKA GORGIOSKI“ 7500 PRILEP, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA Coordinator: Goce BLAZESKI Phone number:+38948410999 E-mail: unasmpp@gmail.com REGINAL ORGANIZATION OF UNASM, STRUGA St: GRADSKI PAZAR 6330 STRUGA, REPUBLIC OD MACEDONIA Coordinator: Dragica POPOSKA Phone number: +38946784495 E-mail: unasmstruga@yahoo.com