The new law on labor relations can be expected in the first half of the year, the current version is under public debate and may be upgraded and undergo changes, the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska announced in "Utrinski Pechat".

Talking about the new solutions that caused the most reactions in the public, Trenchevska explained that mothers will continue to have the right to maternity leave of 9 months, meaning that if they give birth to twins or triplets, they will have an additional 2 months. For the first time, fathers will also have the right to leave for two weeks after the birth of the child, as well as an additional 4 months, which if they give up, they will not be able to transfer them to the mother. In doing so, the father can use this leave at the same time as the mother, or in addition.

Trenchevska said that in the new legal solution, work for a fixed period of 2 years is foreseen, instead of the current 5 years, which is a good compromise solution between the demands of the Union and the employers.

- We have decided that fixed-term work contracts will be for two years and that there will be no possibility of signing an annex to the contract more than three times - said Trenchevska and explained that with this, it will not be possible to sign a contract for a different work position and to start running a new term for fixed-term work, as there are abuses now.

When asked by a journalist whether, however, she does not think that one year is enough for a decision, Trenchevska says that in some activities it may be enough, but in others a longer period of training is needed, that is, in some cases it is better for both the employer and the employee to have a longer one period to decide if the job is a good fit.

In the area of ​​collective agreements, at the moment, the proposal is that they be concluded for two years and be valid for another year. After these three years have passed, the agreements cease to be valid.

– This was done in order to make employers, in the state or private sector, as well as trade unions, not feel comfortable. We now have collective agreements that are valid indefinitely, so for example, the union may not be active and we may not have any more favorable solutions for the workers. In the conditions of such a demand for labor force, I don't think anyone will allow themselves not to sign a new contract, when its validity expires. This is not a final solution, it is still being discussed - said the minister.

Watch the entire VIDEO-INTERVIEW below: