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Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - North Macedonia (RATIFICATION: 1991)

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Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. The Committee takes due note of the Government’s indication in its report concerning the adoption of the fifth Strategy and Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration for 2021–25. The Strategy and the Action Plan for 2021–25 set out strategic objectives in a number of areas, including the strengthening of the institutional framework; prevention; identification and referral; direct assistance, protection, integration; the voluntary return of victims; and efficient detection and prosecution. In this regard, the Committee also takes note of the adoption of: the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Treatment of Victims of Trafficking; the Regulations of 2021, No. 91, adopted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, which have established parameters for the provision of temporary accommodation at the centres for victims of trafficking; and the Act on the Payment of Monetary Compensation to Victims of Violent Crimes of 2022, No. 247, introducing a state compensation for victims of crimes, including trafficking in persons.

The Government also refers to the action of the five mobile anti-trafficking teams for the identification of vulnerable persons, including victims of trafficking, which undertook regular meetings, field visits and contacts, made referrals and provided assistance to victims across the country, as well as the assistance provided to victims in the Centre for Victims of Human Trafficking. For the period August–December 2021, 7 persons, including 3 men and 4 women, were identified as victims of trafficking and 68 persons, including 12 men and 56 women, as potential victims of trafficking.

Considering the country´s central position on main migration routes, the Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to prevent and combat trafficking in persons. It requests the Government to provide information on:

the measures taken to implement the Strategy and the Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration for 2021–25;
the results of the assessment of the implementation of the Strategy undertaken by the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Smuggling;
the number of victims of trafficking who have been identified and the nature of the services provided for their recovery as well as the number of victims who received compensation;
the action of the law enforcement bodies, including information on the number of prosecutions, convictions and penalties imposed under section 418(a) (trafficking in persons) of the Criminal Code.

Articles 1(1) and 2(1). Freedom of civil servants to terminate employment. The Committee notes that as per section 98(3), (4) and (7) of the Act on Administrative Officers, No. 27/2014, the employment of civil servants’ is terminated upon the submission of a written request to resign, with a notice period of 30 days, unless otherwise determined by law. The decision to terminate the employment of the civil servant is made by the head of the institution. Pursuant to sections 82-a and 82-b of the Act on Administrative Officers, civil servants may submit a complaint to the Administration Agency to protect their rights, including as regards the termination of employment. Noting the absence of information in the Government’s report, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on the number of written requests to resign submitted by civil servants, the number of those refused and the grounds for such refusal, as well as information on the number of civil servants who have submitted appeals in this regard to the Administration Agency.