Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in North Macedonia
Capital
Skopje
Currency
Macedonian denar (MKD)
Languages
Macedonian, Albanian
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$5,500.40
Employer Tax
28%
Talent Overview
North Macedonia is a landlocked country located in the Southeast of Europe. The country is bordered by Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania. It has the 53rd freest economy in the world and the 32nd country in Europe. The country has opted to provide the Free Economic Zone policy, which benefits businesses with a tax holiday for ten years. The country’s agriculture sector provides 1/5th of the country’s employment.
Major economic hubs:
Skopje
Skills in demand:
ICT Professionals, Financial Professionals, Agricultural Professionals, Skilled Professionals
Local Universities
The top local universities in North Macedonia are as follows:
Local: 1
World: 2280
Local: 2
World: 4585
Local: 3
World: 6320
Local: 4
World: 6649
Local: 5
World: 7624
Salary Data
The table contains the average monthly salary in North Macedonia:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (MKD) | Average Monthly Salary (USD) |
| Information Technology Manager | 78,200.00 | 1,364 |
| Network Engineer | 40,900.00 | 713 |
| Developer / Programmer | 45,100.00 | 786 |
| Project Manager | 50,000.00 | 872 |
| Database Administrator | 46,100.00 | 804 |
| Business Analyst | 57,300.00 | 999 |
| Business Development Manager | 71,500.00 | 1,247 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Employment Service Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia, Najdi Rabota, Vrabotuvanje
317, 600
Hiring in North Macedonia requires you to be aware of the local employment laws, benefits, payroll, and taxes. Given below is everything you need to know on how to successfully onboard talents from North Macedonia.
The employment contract must be in the official language or the language that is understood by both employee and employer.
The probationary period for new employees must not exceed six months.
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | National holiday |
| 2 Jan | Day off for New Year’s Day | National holiday |
| 7 Jan | Orthodox Christmas Day | National holiday, Orthodox |
| 17 Apr | Easter Monday (Orthodox) | National holiday, Orthodox |
| 22 Apr | Eid al-Fitr (Tentative Date) | National holiday |
| 1 May | Labor Day | National holiday |
| 24 May | Saints Cyril and Methodius’ Day | National holiday |
| 2 Aug | Republic Day | National holiday |
| 8 Sep | Independence Day | National holiday |
| 11 Oct | Day of People’s Uprising | National holiday |
| 23 Oct | Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle | National holiday |
| 8 Dec | Saint Kliment Ohridski’s Day | National holiday |
| Type of leave | Time period | Mandatory |
| Annual leave/Earned Leave | 20 to 26 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 9 – 15 Months | Yes |
| Sick Leave | 30 days | Yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
Workers are paid monthly.
Minimum Wage
The national minimum wage in North Macedonia is MKD 18,000.00 per month.
Overtime Pay
Overtime pay in North Macedonia is at least 135% of the wage of the employee. On holidays and weekends, the premium is 150%.
Employees are also entitled to a one month salary bonus with 150 hours of overtime and has not been absent from work for more than 21 days in one year.
Bonus
The 13th-month pay is customary in North Macedonia depending on the employment contract between employer and employee.
Taxes
| Contribution | Rate (%) |
| Pension and disability insurance | 18.8 |
| Health insurance | 7.5 |
| Employment insurance | 1.2 |
| Additional health insurance | 0.5 |
There is no Employee payroll tax in North Macedonia.
| Taxable Income | Rate (%) |
| Up to MKD 1,080,000.00 | 10 |
| More than MKD 1,080,000.00 | 18 |
The standard VAT in North Macedonia is 18% with preferential rates of 5% and 10% depending on the goods and services.
Offboarding & Termination
Employers can terminate employees based on business (operation), personal (employee’s person) , and economic (downsizing / redundancy) reasons legally. Written notices are required for the aforementioned reasons however for behavorial misconduct (truancy, fraud, etc.), employers are entitled to terminate employees without notice.
The notice period for probationary and regular employees must be at least one month to at the most three months.
Employees are entitled to a severance payment depending on their years of service.
Visa and Immigration
Applying for a business visa to North Macedonia must be submitted no longer than six months and at least 15 days before the trip. An invitation letter from a legal or foreign entity registered in North Macedonia is needed for the successful application for a business visit. Travel insurances are also required to be granted a business visa to North Macedonia.
