Macedonia

North Macedonia adheres to a 40-hour workweek, distributed across five eight-hour workdays. This regulation is established within the country's labor laws. The Labor Law of North Macedonia (Zakon za Trudovi Odnosi) is the legal document that outlines various employment regulations, including standard working hours.

In North Macedonia, the Labor Law outlines regulations for overtime work.

Limitations on Overtime Work:

• Overtime work cannot exceed eight hours per week and 190 hours annually.
• There's an average limit of eight overtime hours per week over a three-month period.

Exceptions to Overtime Limitations:

• Specific work processes that cannot be interrupted or situations where shift organization isn't feasible may allow exceeding these limitations. However, the three-month average of eight hours per week still applies.
• Employees in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Safety Agency with specific duties can exceed the 190-hour annual limit for urgent tasks.

Compensation for Overtime Work:

• Overtime work must be compensated at a rate between 135% and 150% of the regular wage.

Important Note: Employees cannot be forced to work overtime unless exceptional circumstances exist, as defined by the Labor Law. These circumstances include:

• Exceptional increase in workload
• Need to maintain business or production processes
• Addressing damage that could disrupt operations
• Ensuring safety of people, property, or traffic.

In North Macedonia, labor laws have established specific rest periods and breaks to ensure the well-being and productivity of workers.

Daily Rest Periods

All employees are entitled to a minimum of 12 uninterrupted hours of rest between two workdays.

Weekly Rest Periods

Workers are legally guaranteed a weekly rest period of at least 24 consecutive hours. This typically falls on Sundays, but the specific day can vary depending on the work organization and industry.

Breaks During the Workday

Employees who work for more than six hours per day are entitled to a break of at least 30 minutes. However, this 30-minute break cannot be taken during the first two hours or the last three hours of the workday. It's also worth noting that collective agreements between employers and employee unions may establish different break durations or schedules.

In North Macedonia, the demanding nature of night and weekend work is recognized and specific regulations are in place to protect employee well-being and compensate for these schedules as outlined in the Labor Law.

When it comes to night shift work, employees are entitled to a 35% increase in their regular hourly wage. Employers are obligated to provide certain benefits. Prior to commencing night shifts and periodically thereafter, employees must undergo medical examinations at the employer's expense. Employers are also obligated to furnish appropriate food or reimburse employees for food expenses incurred during night shifts. The reimbursement amount is set at 20% of the average salary in North Macedonia for the previous year, calculated proportionally to the number of nights worked. If employees cannot arrange their own transportation during night shifts, employers must provide it.

For weekend work, which is typically defined as working on Sundays or designated weekly rest days, a 50% increase in the regular hourly wage is required. However, specific professions outlined in collective agreements may have different compensation arrangements for weekend work.