North Macedonia is stepping up tripartite cooperation to reduce informality following the ILO-supported conference “Formalization of the Informal Economy: Through Cooperation to Success," held on 18 February 2026 in Skopje. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski emphasized that their goal is "to make the formal economy more attractive than the informal one. To make it easier, more profitable, and safer to work formally.”

A Declaration signed by 20 institutions, two Trade Unions at national level, two Employers’ Organizations and 16 public institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of  Economy and Labour, State Labour Inspectorate and Public Revenue Office, sets out commitments for coordinated action to reduce informality. Grounded in ILO Recommendation No. 204, this Declaration reflects an approach to formalization that combines stronger compliance with measures that make formal work and formal business activity more attractive and feasible for both workers and businesses. 

Social partners welcomed this move as a practical way to unlock new solutions to old problems and correct what has been done poorly in the past, towards fair competition and decent work.

This event was supported by the Employment and Social Affairs Platform 3 project (ESAP 3) funded by the European Union and implemented by the ILO.