PRESPA Institute performed in-depth research on the impact of COVID-19 on the Labour Relations under the project “Increasing productivity by improving the legal framework for labour relations in North Macedonia” of the Macedonian Helsinki Committee. The research included both desk and field research, as well as qualitative and quantitative research intended to determine the consequences of the coronavirus on the labour market. The research question that our team tried to answer is the following: “How has the health crisis affected the labour market and how can legislation be changed in order to make the labour market more resilient and ready for the economic crisis that follows?“
The analysis included all the measures of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia adopted in order to deal with the pandemic. Then, the relevant national legislation on labour relations and public health protection, but also the international regulation and standards, which derive from the International Labour Organization and the European Union. The analysis considers the experience of the European Union and the countries of the former Yugoslavia: Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo. Finally, the process perceives the attitudes of three groups of stakeholders: public officials, workers and employers, through qualitative research, as well as an analysis of attitudes and perceptions of citizens regarding the pandemic and how to deal with it, provided through quantitative research.
Finally, the through the published Policy Study, conclusions are drawn and recommendations are given aimed at the analysed segments and at dealing with the pandemic, which could contribute to improving the labour market situation and reducing the negative effects of the pandemic in the coming period.