1. What are the key national laws on forced labour, modern slavery and/or human rights in your country?
  2. Are there any sector-specific rules?
  3. Are there any obligations for companies, e.g. reporting, due diligence, supply chain transparency?
  4. Are there any government reporting requirements?
  5. Are there any penalties and enforcement mechanisms?
  6. Potential criminal, civil or administrative penalties for violations?
  7. Risks for directors or executives?
  8. Upcoming laws, regulations, etc?

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North Macedonia
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1. What are the key national laws on forced labour, modern slavery and/or human rights in your country?

  • The Constitution of North Macedonia establishes the fundamental legal principles and human rights protections in the country.
  • The Criminal Code provides the legal basis for prosecuting crimes related to forced labour and human trafficking.
  • The Labour Law regulates employment relationships and the rights and obligations of both employers and employees.

International Treaties Ratified by North Macedonia

North Macedonia has ratified several key international treaties that reinforce its commitment to combating forced labour, modern slavery, and protecting human rights:

  • ILO Convention No. 29 (Forced Labour)
  • ILO Convention No. 105 (Abolition of Forced Labour)
  • UN Palermo Protocol (Trafficking in Persons)
  • European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)

2. Are there any sector-specific rules?

North Macedonia does not have sector-specific forced labour regulations.

3. Are there any obligations for companies, e.g. reporting, due diligence, supply chain transparency?

Macedonian companies are required to comply with the national laws and regulations for managing various environmental and social issues. However, reporting on ESG issues under Macedonian regulation is voluntary. The Corporate Governance Code issued by the Macedonian Stock Exchange mandates transparency on labour practices for publicly traded companies, requires disclosure of human rights-related risks and requires the publicly traded companies to incorporate sustainability and social responsibility practices. While not mandatory, the guidelines from the ESG Reporting Guide adopted by the Macedonian Stock Exchange influence corporate social responsibility policies.

The ESG Reporting Guide recommends companies to assess exposure to forced labour risks and encourages human rights due diligence in supply chains.

4. Are there any government reporting requirements?

There are no strict mandatory ESG or human rights reporting laws. 

5. Are there any penalties and enforcement mechanisms?

  • Criminal Code (Article 418-a) provides a monetary fine for companies benefiting from forced labour.
  • Labour Law (Article 265) provides for fine up to EUR 1,000 per offence for violating employment rights.

6. Potential criminal, civil or administrative penalties for violations?

Criminal penalties under the Criminal Code (Article 418-a) for at least 4 years of imprisonment for forced labour crimes.

7. Risks for directors or executives?

  • Criminal liability of at least 4 years of imprisonment under Article 418-а of the Criminal Code.
  • Corporate governance failures under Corporate Governance Code may lead to shareholder actions.  
  • Failure to comply with ESG requirements can result in reputational risks and regulatory investigations.

8. Upcoming laws, regulations, etc?

Potential alignment with the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

Revisions to the Criminal Code may introduce higher corporate penalties for forced labour.