Skopje City Council reduces planned new hires, gives priority to field and operational roles

The City Council of Skopje voted at today's session to cut the number of planned new hires across the city's public enterprises and institutions.

According to the decision, the city will optimize staff numbers to manage the municipal budget more responsibly and redirect human resources toward jobs that are directly tied to the city's functioning and services for residents.

Priority will be given to field and operational roles where there is a real need for extra personnel — above all drivers at the public transport company (JSP), workers and drivers at the Public Enterprise "Komunalna Higiena", and other operational staff required to maintain city services. Administrative positions will be reduced to a minimum so funds and personnel can be focused on streets, parks, public transport and other everyday services used by citizens.

Mayor's statements

On Facebook, Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski wrote that new recruitments in the City of Skopje will be drastically reduced.

"Every denar from citizens must have a clear purpose, and every hiring a real need and concrete work. The people of Skopje deserve a public sector that will justify their trust with clean streets, well-kept parks, regular transport and timely services. Today, at the session of the City of Skopje Council, a decision was adopted with which we put an end to decades of bad practices of uncontrolled accumulation of administration and further burdening of the city budget. For the first time, fewer new hires are foreseen in all public enterprises and institutions. At the same time, the total number of employees, especially in public enterprises, is being reduced on legal grounds. This is a real optimization, aimed at more efficient work and more responsible management of the money of Skopje residents," the mayor emphasized.

Gjorgjievski added that priority will go to those who provide everyday services the city depends on — drivers at JSP, workers and drivers at the Public Enterprise "Komunalna Higiena" and operational staff where there is an actual shortage.

"Most of the planned new hires are for people who will work in the field and directly serve citizens, while administrative positions are reduced to a minimum. The needs of the streets, parks and public transport finally receive the priority they deserve," the mayor said.

He also stated that this restructuring directs funds and staff where they are most needed for Skopje's functioning. "We protect the budget and create conditions for better services. The time of administrative over‑accumulation and burdening citizens is left behind. We introduce order, responsibility and work that is visible. Skopje residents deserve a functional city. Every job must contribute to that, and every denar spent must be justified before the citizens," Gjorgjievski wrote.

Photo: press material from the event