UNASM Newsletter UNASM is full member of
Electronic informant unasmbilten@gmail.com
January—March
CONTENTS Work meeting of CNV and UNASM
2
European economic and social committee
2
Manual on your rights to retirement by MLSP
3
Year 2012, no.07
On the occasion of the European day of action, 29th February, 2012, organized by the European trade union confederation, The Union of trade unions of Macedonia, the Confederation of free trade unions of Macedonia and the Union of independent and autonomous trade unions of Macedonia, to the authorities submit the following: PROCLAMATION
Respect of the law on tobacco
3
Cooperation with employers
4
1. We, the trade unions, representatives of the workers demand the Republic of Macedonia to become full member of the European Union, as soon as possible, 2. Trade unions want the European reconstruction plant that gives priority to investments for sustainable economic growth, high-quality jobs and social justice, as well as fight against inequality, to start with its implementation as soon as possible because it will have a positive influence on our country and our workers, 3. Social dialogue intensifies regarding mitigation of the consequences of the economic crisis, particularly regarding the preservation of jobs, regular payment of salaries and them not being decreased, increase of the social help for vulnerable people, participation of trade unions’ proposals in negotiations for increase of the heating prices, 4. Strengthening the social dialogue and collective bargaining on all levels with particular accent put on collective bargaining on employer’s level , 5. More jobs to be created and young, professionally prepared and qualified people to be employed, 6. Increase of the activities of the authorities in terms of fight against tax frauds and tax evasion, corruption and money laundry.
UNASM President Mr. Slobodan Antovski KSS President Mr. Rasko Mishkoski SSM President Mr. Zivko Mitrevski
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UNASM Newsletter
WORK MEETING OF CNV AND UNASM
Mr. Slobodan ANTOVSKI President of UNASM
“The cooperation with CNV Internationaal is of great importance for the Republic of Macedonia“
In Budapest, UNASM had a work meeting with the representatives of CNV Internationaal, department of international relations headed by Mr. Jaan Kampherbeek, from the Netherlands. This work meeting took place from 13th to 15th March, 2012. The aim of the meeting was continuation of the cooperation through preparation of new programs and activities for the years to come. At the meeting in Budapest several topics were discussed for the upcoming work and gender equality. The president of UNASM, Mr. Slobodan Antovski pointed out that in Republic of Macedonia there are legal solutions, but only in paper and there is lack of their implementation. Furthermore, Antovski highlighted that UNASM is dedicated to agriculture workers, workers in the textile industry, as well as those employed in the informal economy. The other trade union organizations in Macedonia do not pay enough attention to these sectors, even though the unemployment rate in Macedonia is
32% and is much higher than in the other countries. At the meeting, Antovski added that people forced to work in the informal economy are concerned that suffer great pressure from the employers. At the meeting the problems of the domestic workers were mentioned because these workers are not guaranteed the right to work as stipulated in the legal regulations. The implementation of the programme by CNV Internationaal is of great importance for the Republic of Macedonia and UNASM is its partner organization for implementation of the programme in Macedonia.
Working session of UNASM
European economic and social committee The European economic and social committee is a consultative organ of the European Union that includes representatives of different groups of interest in civil society. The Committee with its studies, recommendations and advice contributes to the work of the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the European Commission. It was noticed within the Union that a "democratic deficit” can be felt on the continent. The Committee is an institution of incomparable significance for the cooperation between the EU’s decision makers and the civil society. The European economic and social committee was established in 1957. With the treaty of Rome this Committee is founded as mechanism within which the groups of interest of the civil society will be included in the common market and communication between the economic and social actors and the EU institutions will be established. The Commission, the Council and the Parliament of EU are obliged to consult the Committee when making important decisions in the field of economic and social policy. The Committee is independent and gives suggestions related to all other issues on its own initiative. It has 317 members from all EU member states and the number of members from each country is proportional to the population of the country. The Committee has broad cooperation with economic and social associations all over the world. Every two years an international meeting with these associations is organized.
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Year 2012, no.07
Manual on your right of retirement Organized by the International labour organization (ILO) in few cities in Macedonia educational seminars took place in the month of March entitled: Manual on your right to retirement. Up to now, two seminars took place in Skopje and Bitola. Mrs. Keniche Hiroshe, senior expert in the field of social security with office in Budapest had a presentation, as well as Mrs. Irena Ristevska, head of the social and pension security department within the Ministry of labour and social policy and Mrs. Jadranka Mrshikj, dean of the Faculty of law within the American College University from Skopje. The existent structures of the pension system, the need of stable and secure pension system, a secure pension payment and greater trust of the public, individual choice, balance of the interests of the future generations of retired people and those of the current retired people, as well as the critical points that influence reforms were highlighted at the seminar. Representatives of UNASM from the offices in Skopje and Prilep attended the seminar.
RESPECT OF THE LAW ON TOBACCO On the initiative of the Union of associations of tobacco producers, the Federation of farmers of RM highlighted the problems with the advance, the identification cards for the harvest in 2012. The Federation of farmers of RM expresses its regrets for the behaviour of other organizations of agriculture workers that hinders the process of unification, common performance and representation of the interests of tobacco producers in favor of finding a solution for their problems. According to the Federation of farmers that is not the most transparent thing to do and creates space for manipulation with farmers and does not solve their problems. The Trade union of tobacco producers within the Union of independent trade unions attended the meeting and highlighted that they have a lot of complains coming from of agriculture workers because of not transparent behaviour of the Union of tobacco associations. The union of associations of tobacco producers “Petun” as member of FFRM demands reforms to be made in the legal provisions so that the negotiation processes would include the Federation of farmers of RM as legitimate representative of agriculture workers of which not only the Union of tobacco associations is member, but also the tobacco producers. At the meeting that took place in the village Lazani near Prilep, the tobacco producers said that neither the Government nor the Ministry of agriculture is the negotiator for the purchase price, but the agriculture workers are the negotiators. According to the analysis made FFRM proposes the average price to be increased for 20% and that to be directly related to the different classes of tobacco. The tobacco producers asked the problem with property sheets to be solved, as well as the problems with lease of state owned lands that is essential for concluding agreements with the combines.
Trade Union of tobacco producers within UNASM
„The yellow gold (tobacco) is primary industrial branch in the region of Pelagonia“
WWW.UNASMPP.WEEBLY.COM WWW.OZUNASM.WEEBLY.COM
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION UNASM PRILEP
WWW.MSO-UNASM.MK
St: „SOTKA GjORGjIOSKI “ NN. (H. Skopje) 7500 PRILEP, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA Coordinator: Goce BLAZESKI Phone: +38948410999 Email: unasmpp@gmail.com REGIONAL ORGANIZATION UNASM STRUGA GRADSKI PAZAR NN (on floor) 6330 STRUGA, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
UNION OF INDEPENDENT AND AUTONOMOUS TRADE UNIONS OF MACEDONIA St: “Vasil Gorgov” no.39, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Phone number: +38923230307 Email: info@unasm.org.mk
Coordinator: Dragica POPOSKA Phone: +38946784495 Email: unasmstruga@yahoo.com
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION UNASM DELCHEVO SVETOZAR MARKOVIKJ NN 92000 DELCHEVO, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA Coordinator: Dimitar MOMCHILOV
publisher:
Slobodan ANTOVSKI
publishes:
UNASM
editor:
Rubincho ARIZANKOSKI
Phone: +38933410281 Email: unasmdelcevo@yahoo.com REGIONAL ORGANIZATION UNASM OHRID BULEVAR TURISTICHA REMIS 2 – 3 6000 OHRID, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Electronic informant UNASM Newsletter Email: unasmbilten@gmail.com
Coordinator: Blagoja IVANOSKI Phone: +38946251077 Email: unasm_ohrid@yahoo.com
COOPERATION WITH EMPLOYERS The greater protection and health on the workplace depends on the essential established cooperation between workers, employers and the trade unions by including labour medicine, industrial hygiene, toxicology, engineering, ergonomics, psychology and other scientific areas. In order to decrease the risks it is necessary employers when organizing the work processes to undertake preventive control measures such as: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, providing personal protective means, first aid kit, anti-fire kit, as well as training the employees regarding risky places, health examinations in determined time intervals foreseen with the Law on health and safety, proper protection of women, young, elderly and disabled. It is especially important for employers to pay attention to preventive measures because local, systematic, acute and particularly chronic consequences can have negative effects on workers’ health and their working ability. Preventive measures include protection from psychological harassment, i.e. mobbing. The psychological pressure is quite often at the workplace. In the areas where it is present it has negative effects on workers’ health and the job quality decreases. Mobbing must be treated as hidden source of dangers when determining health and safety policies and strategies.