North Macedonia bill would move 6,000 temporary administrative staff to permanent posts

A bill that would move about 6,000 administrative staff in North Macedonia from temporary status into permanent positions has been submitted to parliament. MP Boyan Stoyanoski of VMRO-DPMNE and the “Senin Makedonyan” coalition presented the proposal yesterday. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said it aims to resolve long-standing problems faced by staff employed under service contracts and similar temporary arrangements.

Mickoski said about 6,000 people in different sectors work under such arrangements. Stoyanoski said the proposed regulation aims to remedy an injustice that has lasted for years.

The bill covers state institutions, certain public bodies in health, culture, child and social protection, local governments, public enterprises, agencies and funds. Joint-stock companies, primary and secondary schools, higher education and science institutions, the Interior Ministry, the National Security Agency, the Intelligence Agency and some security and financial audit bodies are excluded. If enacted, temporary employees within its scope could move into permanent, open-ended employment.