Skopje, 17 January 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska spoke Tuesday at the regional conference titled “Inclusion models for minorities and disadavtaged groups in the Western Balkans – Implementation of good practices and recommendations for improved policy creation” organized as part of the project titled “Promoting of inclusion models for minorities and strengthening the delivery of services in municipal structures in the Western Balkans”.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy said the conference was also attended by GIZ Director for North Macedonia and Kosovo, David Oberhuber, and Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South East Europe (NALAS) Executive Director Kelmend Zajazi.

“As a Government, we choose the path of inclusion, social justice and equality. We implement measures, adopt laws and determine a framework to follow in our society because we have a singular goal – equal opportunities for all citizens. Only by mutual respect and easy functioning without prejudice can we be a successful country that progresses,” Trenchevska said.

She emphasized the Government’s recent activities and pointed out that implementation of social reforms also motivates the pluralization and decentralization of social services, adding that implementation of social services without bringing them closer to the people who need them won’t be successful.

“For the purpose of faster development of the delivery of social services by the municipalities, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy is implementing a project to increase the access to social services and improve their quality, for which we’ve allocated EUR 10,8 million for a period of five years,” Trenchevska said.

The Minister also spoke about the inclusion of the Roma community and said that 105 Roma have been employed in 2022 in compliance with the employment measures, and also referred to the inclusion efforts for Romani children in kindergartens.

“The school year 2021/2022 is the fourth year in a row where Roma children at social risk are included in preschool free of charge,” Trenchevska said. dk/ik/