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1. Main challenges to social inclusion

2. Definitions and concepts

Main challenges to social inclusion

Social inclusion ensures that all individuals in the Republic of North Macedonia have equal opportunities and access to the resources and services necessary for a healthier, happier, and more productive life.

North Macedonia is a social, multiethnic, and multi-confessional state. The signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement (2001) ended the armed conflict in the country, laying the foundation for improved interethnic relations. The agreement facilitated constitutional amendments to promote peaceful and inclusive development of civil society while respecting ethnic identities and the rights of all citizens.

Despite progress, significant challenges remain, particularly concerning ethnic minorities, with a focus on the Roma population:

• Improving access to and quality of public services, particularly in health, social protection, housing, and transportation.
   
• Addressing high levels of social exclusion and discrimination, particularly affecting ethnic minorities, institutionalized individuals, and persons with disabilities.
   
• Strengthening family support networks and policies that protect children’s rights.

Education

In the field of education, social inclusion challenges persist, particularly in ensuring continuous education programs for at-risk groups and reducing school dropout rates.

Key priorities for educational reform in primary, secondary, and higher education include:

• Quality enhancement

• Social inclusion and cohesion

• Decentralization of the education system

Since 2008, secondary education has been mandatory to improve education levels and ensure broader inclusion of vulnerable groups. The Ohrid Framework Agreement also impacted education by increasing funding for higher education in languages spoken by at least 20% of the population.

The Roma population remains the most marginalized in the education system. To address this, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Demography, and Youth and the Ministry of Education continue implementing the Roma Inclusion Strategy 2022-2030 (Стратегија за инклузија на Ромите 2022-2030), which aims to:

• Reduce the socio-economic gap between Roma and non-Roma populations.

• Decrease poverty and unemployment.

• Combat discrimination and anti-Gypsyism.

• Promote equality and full social participation of Roma youth.

The strategy aligns with EU priorities and the Poznan Declaration, focusing on poverty reduction, employment, education, housing, health, culture, and civil status registration.

Employment

Ensuring better integration of long-term unemployed persons and marginalized groups into the labor market remains a priority. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated employment challenges, leading to a rise in unemployment.

Youth participation in the labor market remains low due to:

1. Limited employment opportunities and difficult school-to-work transition.
2. Employer reluctance to provide on-the-job training to inexperienced youth.
3. Skills mismatch between education outcomes and labor market demands.

4. Higher enrollment in tertiary education, driven by policies aimed at reducing education costs.

    

To address these issues, the National Employment Strategy 2021-2027 and its set out three key goals:

• Improving the quality of educational outcomes.
• Strengthening the role of economic and enterprise policies in job creation.

• Enhancing inclusive labor market policies, particularly for vulnerable groups.

  
   

These efforts aim to reduce skills mismatches, youth unemployment, gender disparities, and social exclusion risks. The newly established Ministry for Economy and Labour, the Employment Service Agency, and civil society organizations are responsible for implementing these measures.

Definitions and concepts

North Macedonia does not have a nationally recognized definition of social inclusion. The expired National Strategy for the Reduction of Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010-2020) noted the need for an official definition to guide policymaking.

However, existing strategies interpret social inclusion as a process of integrating individuals into society by ensuring access to education, employment, healthcare, and decision-making processes.

The Law on Social Protection (2019) references social exclusion but does not define it explicitly. Similarly, the Law on Prevention and Protection Against Discrimination (2019) provides definitions related to social justice:

• Discrimination by association: Unfair treatment based on one’s affiliation with a group.

• Discrimination by perception: Prejudicial treatment based on assumed identity.

• Equality: The principle that all individuals have equal rights and responsibilities.

• Marginalized groups: Communities subjected to prejudice, discrimination, and limited opportunities.

Moving forward, the newly established Ministry for Social Affairs, Demography, and Youth is expected to play a key role in developing a renewed national framework for social inclusion and poverty reduction, aligning with EU policies and international human rights standards.