In North Macedonia, several benefits for employees are mandated by law and employers are required to provide them.

Paid Time Off

Employees are entitled to a minimum of 20 working days of paid annual vacation, with a maximum of 26 days for full-time employees. Part-time employees receive a minimum of 10 days. Employees are also entitled to paid leave on all national holidays.

For short-term illness, employers are required to pay a portion of an employee's salary during sick leave. The percentage increases with the duration of the illness. Up to 7 days, it's 70% of regular salary, up to 15 days it's 80% of regular salary, and over 15 days it's 90% of regular salary.

Female employees are entitled to paid maternity leave, and fathers are also entitled to a period of paid paternity leave. Collective agreements or employment contracts may provide additional paid leave for events like marriage, bereavement, or military service.

Social Security Contributions

Both employers and employees contribute to a mandatory pension and disability insurance scheme. The employer contribution rate is 18.8%. Employers and employees also contribute to health insurance, with the employer contribution rate being 7.5%. Employers contribute 1.2% to employment insurance.

Many employers in North Macedonia offer additional benefits to attract and retain talent. These optional benefits often extend beyond the mandatory ones, providing employees with financial, educational, health, and work-life balance support.

Financial and Educational Support

Employers may offer financial assistance for employees to pursue further education or professional development courses. This can take the form of support for both formal and non-formal education. Some companies also provide additional insurance coverage for managerial staff, known as managerial insurance.

Health and Wellness Benefits

In addition to the public health system, employers may offer private health insurance plans. These plans can provide additional coverage and peace of mind for employees.

Work-Life Balance Benefits

Work-life balance is increasingly recognized as an important aspect of employee well-being. To support this, some companies may offer flexible work arrangements. These can include remote work options or compressed workweeks, allowing employees to better balance their professional and personal lives.

It's worth noting that offering employee perks, like gym memberships or discounts on various services, is not as common in North Macedonia compared to other countries.

In North Macedonia, a mandatory health insurance system is in place for all employed individuals. Both employers and employees contribute towards this health insurance. Employers contribute 7.5% of the employee's gross salary, while employees contribute 0.5% of their gross salary.

Mandatory Health Insurance

The public health insurance system covers a range of medical services. These include hospitalization, specialist consultations, diagnostic procedures, and prescription drugs, although some co-payments may apply. It's important to note that the public health system may have wait times for certain procedures or specialist consultations.

Private Health Insurance

While public health insurance is mandatory, employers may offer private health insurance plans. These private health insurance plans can provide additional coverage beyond the public system. This additional coverage can include shorter wait times, access to a wider range of healthcare providers, and coverage for services not included in the public system.

In North Macedonia, there are two primary retirement planning options available to employees.

Mandatory State Pension Scheme

The Mandatory State Pension Scheme is a compulsory plan for all working individuals in North Macedonia, including employees, self-employed persons, and farmers. Both employers and employees contribute a portion of the employee's gross salary towards the scheme. The employer contribution is 18.8%. The employee contribution is not directly deducted from salary, but factored into the overall contribution rate.

The state pension benefit is calculated based on a formula that considers factors like salary level during employment, total years of contributions, and the current average national salary. The state pension scheme operates on a pay-as-you-go system, meaning current contributions fund the benefits of current retirees. The adequacy of the state pension to replace pre-retirement income can vary depending on individual circumstances.

Voluntary Private Pension Plans

Voluntary Private Pension Plans are optional plans offered by private pension funds. Individuals can choose to contribute a portion of their salary to a private pension plan on a voluntary basis.

The benefits of these plans include individuals having more control over investment decisions and potentially higher returns compared to the state scheme. Accumulated funds can be withdrawn as a lump sum or used to provide a retirement income stream upon reaching retirement age. Some employers may offer contributions to private pension plans as an optional employee benefit.