Expand your business into Macedonia with or without having a Macedonian entity
The European nation of Macedonia, now officially named North Macedonia, has undergone significant change in recent years, and its economy has developed rapidly to the point where it is increasingly drawing foreign investment. If you are considering an expansion into Macedonia for your business, it is important to understand and follow the country’s unique regulations. Unfortunately, progress can be slow in Macedonia, so you should expect weeks or even months to get up and running in the country if you are tackling the operation independently.
At New Horizons, we offer an extensive set of outsourcing services to help organizations expand into Macedonia quickly and effectively. Our professional employer organization (PEO), payroll, and employ of record (EOR) services give you the ability to outsource all the complex administration and legal compliance work so you can focus your efforts on a rapid and successful expansion.
Our dedicated in-house recruitment team can also help you to find, hire, and onboard new employees in Macedonia. If you have not yet established an entity in the country, you can use our local subsidiary as employer of record, providing all the benefits of hiring talent in Macedonia but without any of the associated administration.
Our outsourcing services could cut your expansion expenditure by thousands, speed up your growth, and give you greater flexibility moving forward.
How New Horizons outsourcing can help you expand into Macedonia
New Horizons enables your business to expand its operations into Macedonia, even without setting up a legal subsidiary.
Rapid Market Entry
New Horizons will enable you to source, hire, and onboard professionals across Macedonia in as little as 48 hours.
Cost-Effective Expansion
Our PEO solution can help you benefit from cost savings of up to 85%, without the need to establish a Macedonian entity.
Payroll Outsourcing
Simplified Macedonia salary & payroll processing, including social security payments, tax, and any other required contributions.
Employee Onboarding
Utilize the relevant provision for all types of Macedonian labor contracts, whether a fixed-term or open-ended contract.
Onsite Legal & HR Team
Full support for Macedonia-specific contract renewals, terminations, annual leave management, HR, and strategic guidance.
Ensure Full Compliance
We ensure that employment contracts are fully compliant and adhere to Macedonian labor laws and best practices.
Hiring in Macedonia - Employment Law Overview
📝 Macedonia employment contracts
Employers in Macedonia are legally required to provide a written contract of employment for every employee. These contracts should include all relevant details of the employment agreement, be written in one of the country’s official languages (Macedonian and Albanian), and use the local currency of the Macedonian denar.
⏰ Working hours in Macedonia
The standard working week in Macedonia is 40 hours, with five eight-hour days.
📅 National holidays in Macedonia
Date | Description | 1 Jan | New Year’s Day |
|---|---|
7 Jan | Orthodox Christmas |
19 Apr | Orthodox Easter Day |
20 Apr | Orthodox Easter Monday |
1 May | Labor Day |
24 May | St. Cyril and St. Methodius, Eid Al Fitr |
25 May | St. Cyril and St. Methodius |
15 Jul | North Macedonia Election Day |
2 Aug- 3 Aug | Republic Day |
8 Sep | Independence Day |
11 Oct-12 Oct | Revolution Day |
23 Oct | Day of the Macedonian Revolution |
8 Dec | St. Clement of Ohrid |
🏖 Vacation in Macedonia
Employees in Macedonia are generally entitled to between 20 and 36 days of paid vacation leave every year. Additionally, they are entitled to up to seven days of special leave for things like marriages or funeral.
😷 Sick leave in Macedonia
Employees in Macedonia are usually entitled to a sick leave allowance each year. However, the precise details should be laid out in each employee’s employment contract.
👶 Maternity and paternity leave in Macedonia
Female employees in Macedonia can take up to nine months of paid maternity leave, in general. Male employees can generally use up to seven days of paid paternity leave.
💰 Employee severance and terminations in Macedonia
Employees in Macedonia are usually entitled to at least one month of notice prior to termination. Additionally, it is common for employers to be required to assist with finding employees a new role, covering the cost of training in new skills, or paying severance of one month of salary for every two years of service. The exact details of severance and termination rights should be laid out clearly in each employment contract.
🏦 Tax laws in Macedonia
Employers in Macedonia are required to withhold several contributions from an employee’s gross salary:
- Pension insurance = 18%
- Employment insurance = 1.2%
- Health insurance = 7.3% (+0.5% for additional insurance)
The income tax rate in Macedonia is 10% to 18%, depending on income level.
The corporate tax rate in Macedonia is 10%.
🏥 Health coverage in Macedonia
The government provides healthcare in Macedonia, so employers do not need to provide private health insurance. However, some do choose to provide it as part of their benefits schemes.
💳 Macedonia compensations & benefits
Compensation laws in Macedonia
The minimum wage in Macedonia is 14,500 denars per month for full-time employees.
Benefit management in Macedonia
It can be difficult to understand and set up employee benefits in Macedonia, and it can require a lot of time, effort, and investment on the part of employers. However, it is crucial that you adhere to compensation and benefits laws as you can be subject to large fines and legal issues if you fail to.
Outsourcing your benefit management process ensures that you fully understand and adhere to the rules, ensuring your compliance and speeding up the process significantly. At New Horizons, our Macedonia employment experts will help you to find and arrange your benefits, advise on your strategy, and ensure compliance with the law.
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Why choose New Horizons' services for your expansion into Macedonia?
New Horizons’ Macedonia employer of record, PEO, and payroll services provide everything organizations need to begin trading in Macedonia. Our team can ensure you are operational in as little as 48 hours, and could save over 80% in expansion costs, whether or not you have a Macedonian subsidiary.
New Horizons can manage your company’s payroll, benefits, and expenses in Macedonia. Additionally, we can oversee HR duties, as well as employment and tax compliance. And as the only global PEO with an in-house recruitment team, New Horizons will source, hire, and onboard your local workforce.
Contact us today to discover how our Macedonian-specific services can support your expansion.
