Employment agreement in North Macedonia

In North Macedonia, every employment relationship must be formalized through a written employment agreement. Verbal arrangements, freelance deeds and service contracts do not constitute employment under the Law on Labor Relations and are, in certain circumstances, contrary to the law. This page is part of our practice as an employment lawyer in Skopje. For related questions about termination of employment, see our guide on employment termination in North Macedonia.

In North Macedonia, the only way to engage an individual to work for your business is to enter into a formally determined and specified employment agreement. The employment agreement must be written on paper and signed by both parties.

Any deed or freelance agreement is not considered as employment and is even contrary to the law.

Registration of the Agreement

This agreement is then registered with the Employment Agency and the employer is obligated to timely pay the employee salary and benefits.

Duration of the Agreement

The law states that the agreement can be signed for a defined or undefined period of time, and the employee can be engaged on a full-time basis (40 hours per week) or on a part-time basis.

Form of the Agreement

Any changes to the agreement must also be made in written form. No changes to the employment agreement can be agreed verbally.

Content of the Agreement

The law stipulates the minimum elements and content of the employment agreement. In accordance with the law, an employment agreement must contain:

• Data on the contracting parties, their place of residence or head office
• Date of commencement of employment
• Title of the job, or description of the type of work to be performed, with a brief description of the duties
• Provisions on the employer’s obligation to inform the employee of risky jobs and special qualifications, knowledge or medical supervision required, specifying the particular risks that may arise from the work
• Place of work performance (if not specified, the employee is deemed to work at the employer’s head office)
• Provisions on whether the contract is for a fixed or indefinite term
• Provisions for full-time or part-time employment, and daily or weekly working hours
• Provisions on the amount of the basic salary expressed in monetary terms
• Provisions on other benefits to the employee under the law and collective agreement
• Provisions on annual leave and the method of granting annual leave
• Listing of the general acts of the employer setting out the conditions of employment

The agreement may contain other provisions, but any provision that is contrary to the law shall be considered null and void.

Practical Checklist

When preparing or reviewing an employment agreement in North Macedonia, verify the following: (1) Written form is mandatory — there is no valid employment relationship without a signed written agreement. Verbal arrangements or informal deeds do not constitute employment. (2) Register with the Employment Agency — after signing, the employment must be registered with the Employment Agency (av.gov.mk). Failure to register exposes the employer to legal risk. (3) Include all mandatory content — missing any of the legally required elements (parties, salary amount, working hours, place of work, etc.) can affect the validity and enforceability of the agreement. (4) Salary must be stated in monetary terms — the basic salary must be expressed as a specific monetary amount, not just a reference to a pay grade or scale. (5) All changes must be in writing — verbal amendments are invalid. Any change to working hours, salary, role or other terms must be documented in a written annex signed by both parties. (6) Unlawful clauses are automatically void — any provision in the agreement that is contrary to the Law on Labor Relations or collective agreements is null and void, regardless of whether both parties signed it. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a verbal employment agreement valid in North Macedonia?

No. The Law on Labor Relations requires employment agreements to be in written form and signed by both parties. A verbal arrangement does not constitute a valid employment relationship and may even be contrary to the law.

Can a freelance or service contract replace an employment agreement?

No. If an individual is engaged to work regularly for your business in a manner that resembles employment, a freelance or service agreement does not satisfy the legal requirements. Misclassifying employment as a service contract carries legal risk for the employer.

Does the employment agreement need to be registered?

Yes. Once signed, the employment agreement must be registered with the Employment Agency of North Macedonia (av.gov.mk). The employer bears the obligation for timely registration.

What happens if a clause in the agreement is contrary to the law?

Any provision in an employment agreement that contradicts the Law on Labor Relations, a collective agreement, or other applicable legislation is automatically null and void — regardless of whether both parties agreed to it. The rest of the agreement remains valid.

Can an employment agreement be changed verbally?

No. Any change to an employment agreement — including changes to salary, working hours, job title or place of work — must be documented in writing and signed by both parties. Verbal amendments have no legal effect.

Need legal guidance?

If you need assistance drafting or reviewing an employment agreement in North Macedonia, the team at Lalicic & Partners is at your disposal. Contact us through our website.