WORK OF PRISONERS IN MACEDONIA

LEGISLATIVE AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

The author of the paper analysis the work of prisoners according
to the criminal executive legislation of the Republic of Macedonia, next,
the international documents dealing with the rights of the prisoners, such
as, the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMRTP)
and the European Prison Rules (EPR), as well as the work engagement of
prisoners in the penitentiary institutions in the Republic of Macedonia,
actual situation, problems and possible solutions. The author concludes
that in the modern penitentiary systems, work of prisoners as a form of
treatment is of great importance for their re-socialization. Therefore, the
SMRTP and the EPR, also the Macedonian LES, emphasize the
importance of work of prisoners for the successful re-socialization of
prisoners. Both, the international documents as well as the national
legislation, stipulate that the work of prisoners should be based on few
basic principles. The actual situation of work engagement of prisoners in
the penal practice in the Republic of Macedonia shows lack of workshops
in the penitentiary institutions and available work places. Hence, obsolete
equipment in the workshops, lack of fair compensation or no
compensation of all, issues that need urgent improvement.