Since 2021, the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) has been supporting county’s efforts to formalize informal employment by promoting new and more accessible forms of work engagement, particularly for seasonal and temporary work. These efforts have been implemented through the project Better Employment Conditions for Seasonal Workers in North Macedonia, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with CRPM. The initiative was designed to support the entire reform process in line with the objectives of the National Strategy for Formalization of the Informal Economy.
The reform process began with evidence-based policy development. In 2021, CRPM conducted comprehensive baseline research that examined the widespread use of informal labour in agriculture and analysed the existing legal and administrative procedures for hiring seasonal workers. The research revealed that the existing registration system was overly complex, administratively burdensome and insufficiently adapted to the needs of farmers/individuals and other employers relying on seasonal labour. Building on these findings, CRPM developed several policy options aimed at simplifying work engagement while ensuring better protection of workers – the Committee for the Implementation of the Strategy selected the best policy solution. To support the reform, the project also prepared detailed business process mapping and a cost-benefit analysis demonstrating the expected economic and administrative benefits of the proposed system.
Working in close partnership with the Government, four line ministries, the Parliament and more than ten public institutions, agencies and social partners, CRPM played a central role in facilitating the reform process by providing policy expertise, technical support and stakeholder coordination. These joint efforts culminated in the entry into force of the Law on Work Engagement of Persons on 1 January 2026. Through the project, the Employment Service Agency and the Public Revenue Office also received support to upgrade their information systems, enabling the introduction of a simplified digital registration process for seasonal and temporary workers. To officially mark the implementation of this landmark reform, CRPM and the Ministry of Economy and Labour jointly organized the launch event attended by the Minister of Economy and Labour, Besar Durmishi, H.E. Petra Drexler, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to North Macedonia, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Labour, directors of the Employment Service Agency, the Public Revenue Office, the Health Insurance Fund, the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, representatives of public institutions, social partners and the media.
Effective public policy does not end with the adoption of legislation-it succeeds when people understand it, trust it and are empowered to put it into practice. Guided by this principle, following this high-level information and launch event, CRPM in cooperation with GIZ GmbH with this event started with implementation of the nationwide communication campaign “Fair Engagement” which was tailored to educate, raise awareness and promote the work engagement as new formal opportunity for hiring seasonal and temporary labour.
Implemented between February and June 2026, the campaign combined strategic communications, public dialogue, community outreach and institutional cooperation to ensure that the new legal framework reached the people and sectors it was designed to benefit. By translating legislative changes into clear, practical and accessible information, the campaign contributed to raising awareness of legal work engagement, strengthening confidence in labour market formalization and encouraging the transition from informal to protected employment.
Supporting a Landmark Labour Market Reform
The Law on Work Engagement of Persons introduces a simplified legal framework for engaging seasonal and temporary workers in sectors where informal employment has traditionally been widespread, particularly agriculture, hospitality, tourism and domestic services.
The reform enables employers to engage workers through streamlined administrative procedures while ensuring greater legal protection, including accident insurance, pension contributions under defined conditions and the preservation of existing social rights where applicable. By creating a transparent and accessible employment model, the Law represents an important step towards reducing undeclared work, improving working conditions and strengthening the competitiveness of North Macedonia’s labour market.
Recognizing that successful implementation depends not only on legislation but also on public understanding, CRPM designed and led a comprehensive communications campaign focused on making the Law understandable, practical and accessible for employers, workers and local communities across the country.
Building Strong Partnerships for Greater Impact
The campaign was implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Labour and the Employment Service Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia, reflecting a shared commitment to ensuring the successful implementation of the new legal framework.
Throughout the campaign, Minister of Economy and Labour Besar Durmishi and Deputy Minister Marjan Risteski actively participated in information sessions and public events across the country, engaging directly with employers, workers and local stakeholders. Their participation reinforced the importance of the reform and demonstrated the Government’s commitment to promoting fair, transparent and inclusive labour market practices.
Recognizing that meaningful implementation depends on reaching the sectors most directly affected by the new legislation, CRPM also established strategic partnerships with representative business and sectoral organizations.
The National Federation of Farmers (NFF) played a key role in reaching agricultural producers and rural communities, ensuring that farmers received practical information on the new employment framework, the benefits of legal work engagement and the use of the e-Rabota digital registration platform.
At the same time, the Hotel Association of North Macedonia (HOTAM) supported outreach to employers in the hospitality and tourism sectors, helping extend the campaign’s reach to hotels, restaurants and other businesses that rely on seasonal workers.
Together, these partnerships transformed communication into meaningful engagement, ensuring that information reached the employers and workers who stand to benefit most from the new Law.
Bringing Information Directly to Communities
A defining feature of the Fair Engagement campaign was its strong emphasis on direct engagement with citizens.
CRPM organized outreached information sessions in Skopje, Tetovo, Prilep, Negotino, Kumanovo, Struga, Ohrid, Strumica and Staro Nagoričane, creating opportunities for open dialogue between institutions, employers, seasonal workers and local communities. A dedicated session was also organized for students at Kiro Burnaz Secondary Vocational School in Kumanovo, introducing future labour market participants to the opportunities created by the new legislation.
Rather than simply presenting legal provisions, the sessions focused on practical application. Participants received guidance on simplified employment procedures, workers’ rights and obligations, pension and accident insurance, the preservation of existing social benefits and the use of the e-Rabota digital registration platform.
These events provided an important forum for answering questions, addressing misconceptions and building confidence in the new employment model. By creating space for dialogue and practical learning, the campaign strengthened understanding of the Law while encouraging greater ownership of the reform at the local level.
Generating Nationwide Visibility
The campaign’s community engagement activities were complemented by a comprehensive media strategy that significantly expanded the reach of campaign messages and maintained public visibility throughout the implementation period.
Information sessions and stakeholder engagement generated more than 100 media publications across national, regional and local media outlets. An important milestone was reached in June 2026, when the “Fair Engagement” public awareness campaign was launched on Macedonian Radio Television (MRT). This built on the campaign’s existing nationwide radio outreach, further strengthening public awareness through trusted broadcast media with national coverage.
By combining local engagement, strategic media relations, nationwide radio outreach, national public broadcasting and digital communications, the campaign successfully elevated the public conversation from simple awareness-raising to broader discussions on labour formalization, workers’ rights and the long-term social and economic benefits of fair employment.
Reaching Citizens Through Digital Communication
Digital communication played a key role in extending the campaign’s reach beyond face-to-face activities, ensuring that employers, seasonal workers and the wider public across North Macedonia received practical information about the new Law. Through targeted social media campaigns, the initiative reached nearly 235,000 people. Facebook generated more than 2.1 million content views, including 476,000 video views and over 638,000 Reel views, while Instagram reinforced campaign messages through videos, Reels and stories.
The strong engagement with educational content demonstrated the campaign’s success in reaching employers and workers in the agriculture, hospitality, tourism and domestic services sectors, supporting greater awareness of legal work engagement.
Looking Ahead
Although the nationwide communications campaign has been successfully concluded, CRPM’s work to support the implementation of the Law continues. With the summer tourism season now underway and demand for seasonal workers increasing across the country, CRPM will continue promoting the benefits of legal work engagement through targeted communication and outreach activities.
From Legislation to Lasting Impact
The Fair Engagement campaign demonstrates how strategic communication can accelerate the successful implementation of public policy by connecting legislation with the people it is designed to serve.
By combining evidence-based communication, strong institutional partnerships, community engagement and innovative digital outreach, CRPM helped transform the Law on Work Engagement of Persons from a legislative reform into a practical opportunity for employers, seasonal workers and communities throughout North Macedonia.
As a public policy think tank committed to evidence-based solutions, CRPM will continue supporting reforms that strengthen institutions, improve public understanding and contribute to inclusive labour markets, better working conditions and sustainable economic development.
