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SSM, although it is the only representative union and national social partner, was not consulted even for the basic one, and it was not consulted even when adopting the Law on Strategic Partnership for the construction of Corridor 8, although this is an obligation according to the ILO Convention on Labor Clauses, so Before doing anything, the government should have consulted the representative representatives of the workers and employers. The SSM is not familiar with the new proposals for amendments and additions to the Law on Labor Relations submitted by 15 MPs in the Parliament under an urgent procedure, even though for more than 5 years a new ZRO has been negotiated, and at no time during those negotiations these proposals were considered. This further indicates to us that the entire negotiation process is flat-rate and is not conducted on honest and correct grounds, but the views of the involved unions, the civil sector, and the scientific and professional community in the country are not respected at all, all with one goal, to satisfy a foreign consortium, to the detriment not only of the workers but of the entire country", says Slobodan Trendafilov from the Union of Trade Unions of Macedonia in an interview with Factor.
He recalls that last year SSM, together with the Construction Union - SGIP, launched an initiative regarding the provision for working hours of 60 hours per week for the construction of Corridor 8, and that provision was abolished by the Constitutional Court as unconstitutional and illegal. Therefore, as he says, this position of the Constitutional Court also applies to these proposed amendments, given that the Decisions of the Constitutional Court are not commented on, and the MPs are called upon to respect them.
"Unfortunately, in order to play the position of the Constitutional Court, the Government, through a group of deputies, is now proposing the regulation of such a provision in the ZRO, not taking into account international labor standards, the Working Time Convention, European directives and other international documents, and directly it tramples on decent working hours and decent work as one of the greatest benefits of civilization," says Trendafilov.
He also emphasizes that professionals and experts who take care of human health and well-being, unequivocally indicate that excessive work leaves serious negative consequences on people's health, family, and society even when people, forced for existential reasons, "voluntarily" accept they work overtime. The consequences are felt in the form of increased stress, fatigue, and unhealthy lifestyle habits.
"All of this leads to an increased risk of injuries at work, occupational diseases and accidents at work, which will end with fatal consequences, and the total costs of remediating these consequences will cost the state even more, as well as the workers." Practice says that the rate of injuries at work grows proportionally with an increase in working hours during the day, week or month, and that is precisely why, more than 100 years ago, the rule of 8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest, 8 hours was introduced. recreation with the family. Unfortunately, the Government and these MPs are setting Macedonia back more than 100 years. While many European countries are experimenting with introducing a 6-hour daily working time, this move by the Government legalizes a 12-hour daily working time, which is a dangerous precedent contrary to the social democratic values with which this Government is declared", the member of the SSM decided.
He also adds that the latest proposals for amending the ZRO in the direction of increasing the weekly working hours with the so-called "consent" of the employee, as well as the proposals that mean a deviation from the agreed rule that Sunday is a non-working day for the largest number of employees in the state, definitely show that the government does not intend to function according to the principles of social dialogue and active participation of the trade union characteristic of democratic and European-oriented state systems.
"We emphasize that excessive work demotivates workers, and reduces their productivity. The concept of decent work, which is promoted by the ILO, and accepted by the SSM and the Government, and other social partners, advocates for the regulation of realistic working time limits, minimum periods of rest during the day, week, and annual leave, i.e. the working time should be organized in the direction of protection and promotion of health and safety at work, as well as to guarantee the possibility of taking care of children and the family and overall social life", emphasizes Trendfilov.
As he emphasized, the workers do not even have the constitutional possibility to waive the right to daily, weekly, and annual leave, because this is a fundamental constitutional right, that the workers must enjoy.
We must not allow anyone to play with the life and health of the workers, so from here the SSM and the Construction Union will use all the mechanisms at their disposal to preserve this postulate of workers' rights, which is decent working hours. it applies to Macedonian workers just as it applies to European workers. It's not just about the workers, it's about the state as a whole, so from here the national and strategic interest should be exactly that, to protect the workers and preserve the state", - Slobodan Trendafilov from SSM.
You can read the entire interview at the link:
