Skopje, 06.02.2025
The Minister of Economy and Labor, Besar Durmishi, informed at a press conference today about an audit conducted at the Ministry of Economy and Labor.
Attached is the full speech of Minister Durmishi:
Dear citizens and media,
As I have stated previously, that I will engage an audit to see how the procedures were conducted in the previous period, it turns out that the violations are numerous. The information we have provided is evidence of how this Ministry worked and was managed. Irregularities, lack of transparency and a series of violations of administrative and legal procedures are highlighted.
We now have the report and we are asking the competent authorities to take measures to shed light on this entire situation.
According to the Report, numerous violations and non-compliance with administrative procedures and internal regulations were committed during this period.
The violations were committed in the public procurement procedure. In 2021, a procurement of Software for managing applications from individuals and legal entities for the needs of the Ministry was conducted in the amount of MKD 2 million 490 thousand, but it is not in operation and there is no explanation or report as to why this Software has not been put into use. There are indications of a violation of the procedure because the entire process was completed within 15 days, considering that this is software that requires time and professionalism. The audit concluded that this poses a risk and there are violations because the entire procedure was completed in two weeks.
In 2022, a public procurement contract was concluded for construction works related to the construction of an infrastructure line and fences on the plots at the Manastirec location in Makedonksi Brod and the Amzabegovi location in Sveti Nikole worth MKD25 million (EUR400 thousand). The Audit concluded that there were several omissions, which are suspicious, related to the fact that although a contract was concluded with the selected contractor, these works were not completed at all, namely the construction of a photovoltaic center. Due to this lack of implementation and this negligence of the former heads of the Ministry, the funds foreseen by the Ministry of Economy have not been realized. In this regard, the state has lost an investor from which income would be generated and new jobs would be created.
There are also irregularities in the hiring of persons with a contract for work, both in terms of attendance at work and in the lack of evidence, duties and obligations of the working place and their appropriate professional training. The audit also found violations in the use of official vehicles, such as failure to complete appropriate legal documentation, including fuel supply to these vehicles.
Also, after a special administrative procedure, we have learned that the state budget has been damaged by MKD127.721.000.00 or approximately EUR2 million, as a result of the failure to take measures by the Ministry's commissions in the period from 2019 to 2023 and the state will lose this amount. The number of cases that are outdated is 1534 and no further procedure can be conducted for them.
We inform the public that the Commission for Misdemeanors and Sanctions at the Ministry of Economy was established on 04.10.2022, even 4 years and 4 months after the receipt of the cases from the State Market Inspectorate at the Ministry of Economy?! In the reports to the Minister, the members of the commission provide information that there are no conditions for the commission to be formed, to function and to work because there is not a sufficient number of members (5 or 7 members are needed) while only 3 members were working, the question arises: what have the services in the Ministry of Economy been working on for 4 years and 4 months? And as can be seen, as a result of the dysfunctionality of this commission, they have come to the conclusion that over 1.500 cases are outdated.
So, as you can see, there are a large number of violations that the audit has found.
I publicly invite the competent authorities to review the audit report.
All those who acted contrary to the law will bear appropriate responsibility.