SKOPJE, April 25 (Xinhua) -- An 8.3 million U.S. dollars agreement on the 2018 annual employment program was signed here on Wednesday.
The agreement, with an emphasis on young people and vulnerable categories of citizens, was singed between the Macedonian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Macedonian Employments Service Agency and United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Macedonian Prime minister Zoran Zaev present in the signing ceremony underlined that the government still has to face many challenges in order to fight unemployment, provide quality and sustainable jobs as well as assistance for the unemployed to lift hurdles in the labor market.
Louisa Vinton, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Macedonia, emphasized that under this annual program they aim to open some 980 small businesses, including 50 businesses for disabled people.
"A concern in Macedonia is the fact that 50 percent of young people are leaving the country. At the same time, emerging private businesses find difficulties in finding qualified staff," said Vinton.
Mila Carovska, Minister of Labor and Social Policy, highlighted that active employment was adjusted to the need of employees and also the profile of young job seekers and vulnerable groups.
