Institute of Economics

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Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.COVID-19

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    How is COVID-19 reshaping temporary and circular labour migration: Serbia and North Macedonia perspectives
    (Forum geografic. Studii și cercetări de geografie și protecția mediului, 2021-06)
    Lukic, Vesna
    ;
    Predojevic Despic, Jelena
    ;
    ;
    The COVID-19 pandemic has caused migrant workers worldwide to face numerous and specific challenges. This study aims to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic and its societal impact have influenced temporary and circular migrants from Serbia and North Macedonia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 50 participants to gain a deeper understanding of their challenges and migration practices. Temporary circular labour migration from Serbia and North Macedonia are most intensive towards EU countries, which are geographically close and well-connected by traffic, and with which migrants have well-established migration ties. The results show that after the outbreak of the pandemic, respondents faced termination of employment contracts, reduced working hours and earnings. Most of the respondents returned and only a few found formal employment in the country of origin. Job-related impacts of COVID-19 on respondents are determined by temporary residence, a form of employment and the employment sector. Temporary and circular migrant workers from Serbia and North Macedonia involved in the essential sectors in EU countries are less likely to be severely affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results suggest that temporary and circular migration schemes should be improved after the pandemic, in a way that is sustainable even in times of sudden changes. In that regard, in addition to considering the needs of the labour markets of countries of origin and destination, the needs and the rights of migrants, should be prioritized in common solutions.
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    Emigration and remittances during Covid-19: evidence from North Macedonia and Serbia
    (Institute of Economics - Skopje, 2022-12)
    Verica Janeska
    ;
    ;
    Jelena Predojević-Despić
    ;
    Vesna Lukić
    This paper provides assessment of the changes in the scope and transfer of the remittances in North Macedonia and Serbia, in light of changes in the emigration abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis is based on the foreign data sources about emigration abroad, as well as annual and monthly remittance data from national banks of both countries. Emigration abroad from North Macedonia and Serbia in 2020 continued but with decreased intensity than in previous years. In 2020 compared to 2019, the transfer of remittances through official channels is almost 50% higher in North Macedonia and about 17% lower in Serbia, while in 2021 compared to 2020 it increased in both countries. It implicates significant shift from informal to formal remittance channels due to travel restrictions. The category of other current transfers related to the foreign exchange operations in 2020 compared to 2019, noticed considerable decrease in both countries (for two fifths in North Macedonia and for more than one fourth in Serbia). Their decline is particularly emphasized in July and August due to less migrants’ arrivals. In 2021, the increased number of migrants in both countries results with higher inflow of remittances in cash. Changed transfer of the remittances imply need for: Development of digital financial tools according the migrant’s needs; To stimulate the use of bank cards for remittance recipients; Improvement of communication tools to promote financial literacy and encourage the use of digital services by migrants and their families; etc.