Decent Work Diagnostics for a Western Balkan Country Stuck in the Neo-liberal Doctrine: The Case of the Republic of Macedonia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15173/glj.v6i2.2335Abstract
The paper proposes a strategy: ‘decent work diagnostics’ for finding out the policy priorities for a country with poor decent work conditions. It is aimed at identifying the most binding constraints on decent work, and setting policies that will target these constraints. The strategy provides a focus on the policies necessary for a country to progressively achieve decent work while at the same time stopping policy makers from using a ‘laundry list’ approach, which typifies neo-liberal policies. This methodology is applied to a country from the Western Balkans – the Republic of Macedonia - and it is shown that the country’s economic governance strongly resists the implementation of the decent work agenda. The key policy priorities should be oriented towards addressing income inequality and political patronage.
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Boeri, T. (2009) ‘Setting the Minimum Wage’, IZA Working Paper: 4335.
Bornarova, S. and V. Janevska (2012). ‘Social Impact of Emigration and Rural-Urban Migration in Central and Eastern Europe’, European Commission Final Country Report: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Careja, R. (2007). ‘Are trade unions effective accounting actor’, SEER SouthEast Europe Review for Labor and Social Affairs, 4, pp. 83-106.
Card, D., and Krueger, A. (1995) Myth and measurement: the new economics of the minimum wage. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Casale, G. (1999) ‘Tripartism and Industrial Relations in Macedonia’, in G. Casale (eds.) Social Dialogue in Central and Eastern Europe. International Labor Office.
Cvijanović, V., and D. Redžepagić (2011). ‘From political capitalism to clientelist capitalism: The case of Croatia,’ Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci, vol.29, sv.2, pp. 355-372.
Dobrotić, I. (2008). ‘Social Care System for Defenders from the Homeland War,’ Croatian Journal of Social Policy, 15(1): 57-83.
Đukić, P. (2006). ‘The organized world of labor in Serbia today: between economic reforms and populism,’ South-East Europe Review of Labor and Social Affairs, issue 04, pp. 11-30.
Eurostat (2013). Eurostat yearbook, 2013.
Frey, D. (2010) ‘A Diagnostic Methodology for Regulating Decent Work’, International Labor Office Conference, Geneva.
European Commission (2007). The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2007 Progress Report. Brussels.
European Commission. (2008). The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2008 Progress Report. Brussels.
European Commission. (2010). The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2010 Progress Report. Brussels.
FPDIRM (Fund of pension and disabilities insurance of the Republic of Macedonia) (2012). Annual report on the work of the Fund of Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Macedonia for 2011. Skopje.
Hausmann, R., Rodrik, D., & Velascso, A. (2005) ‘Growth Diagnostics’. Harward University Working Paper.
Hristova, L. (2007) ‘Trade Unions as Political Actors’. Refreaming Social Policy: Actors, Dimensions and Reforms, Skopje: University Ss. Cyril and Methodius and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, pp. 220-235.
ILO (International Labor Organisation) (2008). Toolkit for Mainstreaming Employment and Decent Work: Country Level Application. Geneva: International Labor Office.
ILO (International Labor Organisation) (2010). The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Decent Work Country Programme 2010-2013. Geneva: International Labor Office.
ILO (International Labor Organisation) (2011) Statistical update on employment in the informal economy, Geneva: International Labor Organization.
ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) (2011). Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights. Brussels.
Ivanovski, I., & Tevdovski, D. (2010) ‘Public expenditures in the Republic of Macedonia 2006-2011: How does the Government spend the public money?’, Policy Paper. Skopje: Progress Institute.
Jakimovski, J. (2011). ‘The Labor Market Towards Provision of Decent Work’. In Research and Recommendations Book. Skopje: Balkan Children and Youth Foundation.
Jankulovska, L. (2002). Working Paper in Informal Economy. Skopje: Federation of Trade Unions in Macedonia.
Kajsiu, B. (2010). ‘Down with Politics! The Crisis of Representation in Post-Communist Albania,’ East European Politics and Societis, 24 (2), pp.229-253.
Kohl, H. (2009). ‘Social dialogue, workers’ rights and freedom of association in the western Balkans – a survey after a first round of empirical research,’ SEER SouthEast Europe Review for Labor and Social Affairs, 2, pp. 151-173.
Mavrikos-Adamou, Tina (2013). ‘Rule of law and democratization process: the case of Albania,’ Democratization.
Mencinger, J. (2012) ‘The Economics of Enlargement’. In the Swoboda H., Stetter E. and Wiersma J. (eds.) EU Enlargement Anno 2012: A Progressive Approach (pp.155-162). Brussels: European Union.
NBRM (National Bank of Republic of Macedonia) (2012). Quarterly Bulletin IV2012. Skopje.
Mojsovska-Blazevski, N. (2008). Decent Work Country Report – The FYR Macedonia. Geneva: International Labor Organization.
Pappas, Takis S. (2013). ‘Why Greece Failed?’ Journal of Democracy, Volume 24, Number 2.
Petrevski, G. (2005). Monetary policy: theory and Macedonian experience. Skopje: Center for socio-economic development.
Petrevski, M. (2012). Determining the minimum wage. Skopje: CEA.
Risteski, H. (2009). Assesing handicraft shadow economy in Macedonia. Skopje: Center for Economic Analyses.
Saveski, Z., Apasiev, D., Kovachevski , A., & Vasilev, K. (2010). Underestimation of labor : analysis of labor-legal legislation in the period of transition. Skopje: Lenka.
Schneider, F. (2011), ‘Shadow economies all over the world: New estimates for 162 countries from 1999 to 2007’, in Schneider, F. (ed.), Handbook on the shadow economy, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Solidar (2012). Making the System Work: Ensuring Decent Work and Quality Jobs in the Western Balkans. Brussels.
SSO (State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia) (2010). Statistical yearbook of the Republic of Macedonia 2010. Skopje.
SSO (State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia) (2012). Active population in the Republic of Macedonia, Results from the poll for labor force, I quarter 2011. Skopje.
SSO (State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia) (1998). Relative poverty in 1997. Skopje.
SSO (State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia) (2012b). Employees and their net wages. Skopje.
SSO (State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia) (2012c). Relative poverty in 2011. Skopje.
SSO (State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia) (2012d). Labor Force Survey. Skopje.
Tevdovski, D. (2011). Minimum wage in the Republic of Macedonia. Skopje: Economy and Business.
Tevdovski, D. (2012) ‘Monitoring of the implementation of the minimum wage in the Republic of Macedonia’, Skopje: Progress Institute.
Tevdovski, D., & Tosevska, K. (2006) ‘The Main Characteristics of the Unemployment in Macedonia’, Proceedings from the International Scientific Conference - ECOTREND-2006 . Targu-Jiu: Constantin Brancusi University.
Transparency International (2012). ‘Corruption Perceptions Index 2012’. Berlin.
Trpeski, P. (2011). Labor market in the Republic of Macedonia: New Kenzian approach. Bitola: Macedonian scientific association - Bitola.
Upchurch, M. (2009). ‘The IFI’s and Labor Reform in Post Communist Economies,’ Globalizations, 6, 2, pp. 297-316.
Upchurch, M., & D. Marinković (2011). ‘Wild Capitalism, Privatisation and Employment Relations in Serbia,’ Employee Relations, 33, 4, pp.316-333.
Wiliams, C. (2013). Tackling undeclared work in FYR Macedonia. Dublin: Eurofound.
World Bank. (2010). World Development Indicators. Washington, DC.
Eironline (European Industrial Relations Observatory On-line) (2013). Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM): Industrial relations profile, http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/country/macedonia_4.htm, accessed 19 June 2013.
EFN (Economic Freedom of the World) (2012). Economic Freedom of the World Data, http://www.freetheworld.com/ , accessed 19 June 2013.
Eurostat database (2013a). GDP in PPS. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tec00114, accessed 21 July 2013.
Eurostat (2013b). Wages and Labor Costs. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Wages_and_labour_costs#Further_Eurostat_information, accessed 21 July 2013.
Trade Union of Macedonia (2012). Syndicate minimal basket. http://www.ssm.org.mk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=609%3Asindikalna-minimalna-kosnica&catid=136&lang=mk, accessed 21 July 2013.
World Bank Database (2013). http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/, accessed 21 July 2013.
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