The COVID-19 pandemic has caused migrant workers worldwide to face numerous and specific challenges. This study aims to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic and its societal impact have influenced temporary and circular migrants from Serbia and North Macedonia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 50 participants to gain a deeper understanding of their challenges and migration practices. Temporary circular labour migration from Serbia and North Macedonia are most intensive towards EU countries, which are geographically close and wellconnected by traffic, and with which migrants have wellestablished migration ties. The results show that after the outbreak of the pandemic, respondents faced termination of employment contracts, reduced working hours and earnings. Most of the respondents returned and only a few found formal employment in the country of origin. Job-related impacts of COVID-19 on respondents are determined by temporary residence, a form of employment and the employment sector. Temporary and circular migrant workers from Serbia and North Macedonia involved in the essential sectors in EU countries are less likely to be severely affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results suggest that temporary and circular migration schemes should be improved after the pandemic, in a way that is sustainable even in times of sudden changes. In that regard, in addition to considering the needs of the labour markets of countries of origin and destination, the needs and the rights of migrants, should be prioritized in common solutions.
The main aim of this paper is to identify current levels of knowledge, skills and abilities of the SMEs’ employees in North Macedonia, vis-à-vis firms’ needs for knowledge and skills. This paper analyzes the current levels of employee job-specific, soft, digital and entrepreneurial skills on a sample of firms in North Macedonia. For the purposes of this research, the employees were classified in three categories: core employees, supporting employees and managers. The results of the research show that the main challenge regarding the soft skills refers to solving complex problems, capacity for job analysis and initiative. Adapting to new technologies is found to be the weakest aspect of digital skill among employees. Entrepreneurial skills related to risk taking, capacity to generate new ideas, creativity and innovation as well as flexibility at work are also considered to be a challenge.
The aim of this paper is to identify the changes in the period 2002-2021 and current situation related to population ageing and basic functional contingents of the resident population in North Macedonia. Based on the analysis the main challenges in terms of demographic and socio-economic development on mid and long term are determined and areas in which appropriate policies should be developed. The analyses show that resident population has declined for about 12% and the demographic ageing was accelerated. It results with decrease of the number of children for 27%, young population (32%), working-age population for (12.4%) and female fertile population (21.4%), while the population aged 65+ increased for 47.5%. In circumstances of extremely unfavorable demographic situation, the country is facing three major challenges referring to the necessity to mitigate the decrease of the resident population and of the young working-age population, as well as the rapid growth and aging of the elderly population. Each of them is equally complex and requires great attention and comprehensive activities of the policy makers in the country. Indisputable interrelation of the policies in all these areas requires creation and of a comprehensive strategy for family that should include all relevant aspects related to promoting its position and sustainability.
This paper provides assessment of the changes in the scope and transfer of the remittances in North Macedonia and Serbia, in light of changes in the emigration abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis is based on the foreign data sources about emigration abroad, as well as annual and monthly remittance data from national banks of both countries.Emigration abroad from North Macedonia and Serbia in 2020 continued but with decreased intensity than in previous years. In 2020 compared to 2019, the transfer of remittances through official channels is almost 50% higher in North Macedonia and about 17% lower in Serbia, while in 2021 compared to 2020 it increased in both countries. It implicates significant shift from informal to formal remittance channels due to travel restrictions. The category of other current transfers related to the foreign exchange operations in 2020 compared to 2019, noticed considerable decrease in both countries (for two fifths in North Macedonia and for more than one fourth in Serbia). Their decline is particularly emphasized in July and August due to less migrants' arrivals. In 2021, the increased number of migrants in both countries results with higher inflow of remittances in cash.Changed transfer of the remittances imply need for: Development of digital financial tools according the migrant's needs; To stimulate the use of bank cards for remittance recipients;
The main goal of this paper is to identify the challenges of the sustainable demographic development in terms of the changes and current demographic situation in the Western Balkan countries and to detect the importance of population policies. The analysis is based on the relevant indicators for demographic changes identified in the Sustainable Development Strategy of the EU. The comparative analysis is made for the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Republic of Macedonia and Serbia. The available data from the Eurostat statistics and other relevant data sources and studies for the last decade are used. The added value of this research is in the comparison of the demographic indicators and recognizing their importance for the sustainable demographic development of this region as one of the key preconditions for the future sustainable development.The results of the analysis show that the demographic changes are big challenge for the sustainable development in all Western Balkan countries. They have implications in many domains and should be in the focus of the demographers, researchers and policy makers in different fields of the macroeconomics. The lack of data for old-age income adequacy and public finance sustainability imposes the need for comprehensive database in each country as a precondition for continuous monitoring of the demographic changes and for creating appropriate policies regarding the sustainable development. Based on the results of this research, the common areas where the population policies of these countries should be directed are identified.
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