Conditions and opportunities for internships in accordance with the Law on Internship

The Law on Internship (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia” No. 98/2015) entered into force on 29.05.2019, and enabled regulation of the legal matter regarding the realization of an internship with an employer.

Both stakeholders, interns and employers, will have benefits from the Law. Interns, i.e. unemployed young people up to 34 years of age, are offered the opportunity to work in real conditions, and thus acquire knowledge, skills and qualifications in order to integrate more successfully into the labor market. On the other hand, employers have the opportunity to hire appropriate staff through on-the-job training, thus filling certain job positions within their company.

But what exactly does the Law on Internship establish?

First, it sets out the manner, conditions and procedure for realization of the internship. It stipulates that internship apply to young unemployed persons up to 34 years of age with completed primary school, as a minimum. It states that the employer announces their need for an intern by announcing a public call that contains the terms of this type of activity.

It determines the maximum period of internship that can be 6 (six) months and the maximum number of interns that the employer can hire, depending on the total number of full-time employees.

The law also stipulates that the employer is obliged to pay a fee for the internship to the intern, in the amount from 42% to 74% of the minimum net salary determined with a law, for internship of up to 3 months. However, if the internship is longer than 3 months, but not more than 6 months, the monthly fee to be paid by the employer of the intern beginning from the fourth month, should be in the amount of the minimum net salary established by law.

It regulates the rights and obligations of interns and employers and sets out the elements that should be contained in the Internship Agreement.

Within the context of the applicable conditions for the interns stipulated in the law, during the internship, the intern does not lose their rights arising from the unemployment and social protection rights established and acquired in accordance with the law.

The Law also stipulates provisions for education, misdemeanor provisions, a provision regulating the fine and a provision regulating the misdemeanor procedure.