Network for Protection Against Discrimination opposes Chamber proposal to make public holidays subject to individual agreements

The Network for Protection Against Discrimination has publicly rejected a proposal from the Chamber of Commerce to make non-working (public holiday) days subject to individual agreements between employees and employers, arguing that workers' rights must remain guaranteed by law.

The Network warns that allowing holidays to be decided through individual bargaining would leave employees vulnerable to pressure, particularly those with lower pay or precarious employment, since access to basic rights should not depend on an employer's goodwill or a worker's negotiating strength.

Network calls for social dialogue and collective safeguards

In its statement the Network stressed that protection must come from legislation and collective agreements, not from one-on-one contracts. It argued that individual bargaining over public holidays could push employees to relinquish entitlements out of fear for their jobs.

The Network also urged that neither employers nor the Chamber should determine who may use a public holiday or under what conditions. It demanded that any changes affecting workers' rights be negotiated in formal social dialogue involving the Government of North Macedonia, trade unions and employers.

Addressing broader productivity arguments, the Network said gains are achieved through investment, better organisation, safe working conditions and decent wages — not by reducing workers' rights. "Workers' rights are not a matter for bargaining," the Network wrote as its closing message.

Photo: Novica Nakov / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)