#ESAP2 This project is funded
by the European Union

Want to participate in a pilot measure that aims to reduce informal employment and undeclared work?

In collaboration with HOTAM, the Economic and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) 2 – funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) – is piloting the measure “Making Declared Work Attractive for Employers and Employees” (MDWA).

The measure aims to generate evidence on the effectiveness of the simplification of employment procedures and lower social security contribution for short-term workers in reducing informal employment and undeclared work.

Subject of this pilot measure will be the short-term employments for one, two or a few days (consecutive or non-consecutive, but no more than 9 days monthly with the same employer) in the period 1 May to 31 August, 2022 in the region of Ohrid and Struga.

The following categories of job seekers are eligible to participate in this pilot measure:

  • Unemployed individuals (can be engaged unlimited number of days per months, but no more than 9 days for the same employer);
  • Individuals already employed full-time or part-time (full time workers can be engaged maximum 40 hours or 5 days per months and have to obtain a documented approval from their current employer);

Requirements for anyone interested in being a part of the pilot measure:

  • To be 15 years or older;
  • To be registered on the HOTAM website https://hotam.mk/job-seekers/;
  • To be registered in the Agency for Employment (with the exception of employed individuals). Registration can be done simply by visiting the Agency with a valid personal identification documents – ID card or a passport;
  • To have completed a within the last 6 months and own a sanitary passport;
  • To have a valid medical certificate issued by a registered doctor in medicine of labor.

Benefits for the individuals engaged through this pilot measure:

  • Paid contributions for every working hour to pensionable service (tenure);
  • Earn extra money in your free time. The pilot measure sets up a daily wage (for 8 working hours) of at least 1,500 denars for waiters, assistant waiters, bartenders, assistant cooks, housekeepers, bellboys; and at least 3,000 denars for experienced cooks – chefs;
  • Working without tension and fear of penalty fees for undeclared work;
  • A possibility to create contacts for future regular employment;
  • The data gathered at the end of this pilot measure will be used to advocate for changing the employment law and simplifying the employment process so that every employment relation is declared, in a quick and simple procedure, with paid contributions and registered pensionable service.

The process for enrolling and the flow of activities for the interested job seekers:

  • Register on the website of HOTAM: https://hotam.mk/job-seekers. (This season the web site will be used specifically for short-term engagements through the pilot measure, and in the future it will develop as a hospitality labor market.)
  • Express interest in the trainings which will be organized by HOTAM. The trainings will be organized in 3 skill types: 1. kitchen skills, 2. Restaurant skills and 3 Housekeeping skills. These trainings will be organized during the months of March – May, 2022 and will be held in on-the-spot in hotels with business professionals of the appropriate skill.
  • After the registration, the individuals will be contacted directly by a representative of the pilot measure team to determine the preferences of the candidate and to define the future possibilities.
  • After the initial candidate base is created, during March 2022, the candidates will be contacted with invitations for the training.
  • The main activities of the pilot measure, meaning the short-term employments, will start from 1 May, 2022
  • Businesses registered with the Pilot measure interested in engaging short-term workers will contact the registered candidates already known to them or will contact the Pilot measure office for a list of job-seekers registered for the open job positions, with adequate skills gained during prior work experience and/or training provide by the Pilot measure.
  • The businesses will contact the job-seekers directly and if they agree on the employment conditions they will sign a short-term employment contract (for a day, two, five…) following the templates prepared by the Pilot measure. It is possible for one employer to engage the same employee a few non-consecutive times during the month. In this case a new contract will be signed for each engagement.
  • The salaries will be paid by the employer at the end of the month for all working days during that month. The employer will pay the net salary (daily wages) to the worker, and the contributions to the Government.
  • The workers (job-seekers) engaged through the pilot measure must respond to the job as agreed with the employer with hard work, responsibility, honor, as a team member with all regular and other short-term employees.