The crowds in front of the Civil Court Skopje are slowly calming down, where the citizens have been making huge congestion for days to get proof that they have not lost their parental rights. At the beginning of each year, families applying for third child assistance should obtain such a document from the Court, and then submit all documentation to the municipal social welfare centers.

Otherwise, they will lose the right to the monthly financial assistance of 9.000 denars. Applications are usually submitted from 1 to 31 January, but this month has many non-working days, the counters do not work in two shifts, and the administrative staff works with reduced capacity due to the pandemic. The certificates are issued in one day, 320 denars are paid for them, and about 11.000 such documents should be issued. Additional congestion is created due to the fact that these days hundreds of citizens rush to obtain certificates of non-conviction, which they need to apply for a job in appropriate state institutions (police, schools, ministries).

- I came three times last week, I was leaving work, but it was impossible to approach the counters. There are hustle and bustle every year in January, but this one was really drastic. We are all in a hurry to get documents, because it takes a long time to get a solution and if we lose the order, instead of month after month, the money will arrive in the middle of the year. This is because it is not only waiting in front of the court, but also in front of the counters of the municipal centers for social - says Tanja from Skopje. 

From the Basic Civil Court in Skopje for "Free Press", they say that it is true that they had a push, but the administrative staff works with reduced capacity, due to health recommendations.

-Since the beginning of January, over 7.000 citizens have obtained proof that they have not lost their parental rights, and we expect the total number to be around 11.000. It is similar every year, because the citizens want to finish the work in January. The work can be completed at several counters. But, unfortunately, no one follows the health recommendations, the citizens receive numbers, but do not keep their distance, although the judicial police is trying to maintain order - we were told by this Court.