Macedonia Advances Major Reforms in Social Protection System
The Macedonian government, led by the VMRO‑DPMNE party, is finalising a new law on the employment of persons with disabilities as part of a broader overhaul of the social protection system. A newly introduced software platform now integrates the administration of cash benefits, social services and public authorisations, giving social‑work professionals a digital tool to monitor household needs and risks in real time.
Over 80 service contracts with municipalities and licensed providers have been signed to expand home and community care. The administration is also raising pensions by 7,000 denars for more than 330,000 retirees and increasing capacity for pre‑school education to accommodate an additional 3,515 children nationwide. Parallel work is under way on a unified disability‑assessment framework and on reforms to the professional exam for caregivers and educators.
These measures aim to create a more efficient, transparent and socially responsible welfare system, addressing inherited weaknesses and improving support for the most vulnerable groups.