Merely four days after launching the measure stimulating employment of young people under the age of 29 by exempting employers from paying social contributions for 12 months, 68 companies submitted requests to use the benefits.

"In only four days, a total of 68 companies submitted requests to use this benefit. It is a systematic measure that is in force for all private companies. I expect the number of private companies hiring young people and using this benefit to be continuously increased. The measure covers 45 thousand individuals. It is extremely beneficial because companies are exempted from paying social contributions for a period of 12 months and I call on the firms to use it," Minister of Labour and Social Policy Dime Spasov said Tuesday presenting the measure at the Economic Chamber of Macedonia.

The legal provisions are well-conceived enabling protection from abuse of the measure, according to him.

The private sector is showing huge interest to use the measure, said Jelisaveta Georgievska - executive director at the Economic Chamber of Macedonia.

"The chamber is endorsing this kind of initiatives by the Government and the Ministry of Labour. This measure is in line with our positions and expectations on increasing the employment rate on one hand and reducing unemployment on the other, in particular cutting down brain drain," she noted.

Minister Spasov vowed the Government would resume its partnership with the private sector by creating and proposing measures encouraging private firms to hire staff.

As a result of the active measures, the unemployment rate has been reduced in Macedonia, he added.

"I believe that with all of the measures, including the latest one for hiring people under 29, unemployment will continue to drop in Macedonia," stated Spasov.

In recent times, the Government of Macedonia has implemented a number of reforms to improve the business climate and competitiveness, increase the number of investments, reduce the costs of firms by lowering taxes, improve the educational system and human resources in accordance with the needs of the labour market and create better conditions for job creation.