Skopje, 31 July 2024 (MIA) — Minister of Economy and Labor Besar Durmishi met Wednesday with International Labor Organization director for Central and Eastern Europe Claire Harasty to discuss the ILO's role in implementing social and labor market policies in North Macedonia and its support to the state Economic and Social Council, according to an official press release.

At the meeting, Minister Durmishi said the close cooperation of the Ministry of Economy and Labor with the ILO from now on would be greatly valued.

The new Ministry of Economy and Labor would focus on upholding labor rights and creating policies to improve the labor market in the country, Durmishi said, noting that he, as the new Minister of Economy and Labor, would also be chairing the Economic and Social Council.

He said that both the workers' and the business sector's interests had to be taken into account when creating government policies.

"With the reorganization of the ministries, the Ministry of Economy and Labor has now taken over the competence [from the previous Ministry of Labor and Social Policy] to represent North Macedonia in the ILO.

"This means that the ILO will be our most important external partner in the sectors of labor, employment, work health and safety, the minimum wage, international labor standards and the fulfillment of North Macedonia's international obligations," Minister Durmishi said at the meeting.

Meeting participants agreed that the key priorities of their future cooperation would be promoting social dialogue, creating more and better jobs, and developing an inclusive labor market.

The minister thanked the ILO representatives for their efforts to improve workers' rights and living conditions and expressed his hope for an even deeper cooperation in the future.

"With me as Minister of Economy and Labor, you will always have an open door at the Ministry of Economy and Labor, and a partner for creating measures together, especially with your expert and technical support in the creation of laws originating from the labor sector and social dialogue," Minister Durmishi is quoted as saying in the release. mr/