Implementation of the Regulation on Free Movement of Workers in North Macedonia begins on March 5

The Regulation on the Free Movement of Workers in North Macedonia will begin to be implemented next week, Nola Ismajloska Starova, the national coordinator for regional cooperation and European integration in the Macedonian Government, announced for Kosovo Online, emphasizing that this meant that Macedonian, Serbian, and Albanian workers would no longer need work permits.

Ismajloska Starova stated that all necessary technical tests had been completed to ensure that everything would be at a high level when the implementation began.

"This opens up many opportunities for citizens of North Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania for freer movement and greater mobility in the labor market, and from next week, they will no longer need work permits but will need to obtain the 'Open Balkan' - an identification number for electronic service portals, with which they further apply for free access to the labor market. Additionally, everyone will have the opportunity for unrestricted movement for two years," Ismajloska Starova clarified.

The implementation of the Regulation officially "kicks off" on Tuesday, March 5, and all those who will strive to clarify all uncertainties and answer all questions are ready and trained.

"There is a lot of interest, both from individuals and companies, who have contacted us. The positive news is, as those responsible for foreign investments say, that interest in our area is growing because increasing the workforce means more opportunities," Ismajloska Starova said.

Trajan Angeloski, President of the Chamber of Commerce of North Macedonia, believes that bureaucratic procedures will also be shortened, as unnecessary waste of time and energy in certain processes means lost funds, opportunities...

"Definitely, this idea of economic integration of the region means a lot. But you notice that politicians meet, maybe 20 times, at 20 summits, and maybe one or two measures are functional. So, our performance is weak in that regard, and we definitely need great efficiency. These are elementary things that are quickly resolved everywhere in the world. Procedures have been shortened in some parts, but there are still lines of trucks at the borders... Therefore, we expect these procedures to be further improved and shortened in the coming period," Angeloski said.