Today, the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia organized an online regional panel discussion on Occupational Safety and Health, as part of the activities implemented within the Project: OSH during COVID-19 pandemic, funded by ITUC PERC and Union to Union.

Regional OHS Panel Discussion

The panel discussion was attended by representatives of trade union confederations from the region: Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS), UGS Nezavisnost, Serbia, Federation of Trade Unions of Republika Srpska, Federation of Trade Unions of BiH, Federation of Trade Unions of Croatia, Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro, (USSCG), Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Macedonia (KSS), representatives of the project office of RSS Solidarnost, as well as representatives of branch unions affiliated in CCM, who discussed and presented OHS aspects in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in each country.

The President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, Darko Dimovski emphasized  that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic marked 2020 and caused consequences that were globally unknown.

From the beginning of the pandemic, CCM, as a representative trade union in the country, insisted on social dialogue and adequate involvement of all social partners in the country in creating measures to combat the infection and protect the life and health of citizens. At the same time, we demanded that it is necessary to undertake activities to maintain business ventures, stabilize the economy and the functioning of society.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia and the Unions from the region, from the very beginning of the pandemic, having in mind the experiences of the countries where the pandemic had been widely spread and the recommendations of the World Health Organization  have demanded:

COVID – 19 to be recognized as an occupational disease for all workers and the absence from work due to infection, isolation and self-isolation to be paid 100% of the basic amount determined by law.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia for this purpose has submitted requests to the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Ministry of Health and the Government to regulate this right, and at this panel discussion once again it was confirmed the request of CCM, COVID -19 to be recognized as an occupational disease with great support from the fraternal unions in the region, which in the form of a Recommendation from the unions in the region will be additionally sent as a joint regional initiative to the relevant institutions in all countries.

Source: ssm.org.mk