After completing the service with the Macedonian Army (ARM), professional soldiers over 45 years of age will be employed in state institutions until their retirement, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told a press conference on Tuesday.

The bill that should regulate this issue will be drafted in ten days at latest by the Ministry of Defence and should be adopted by the end of February.

The soldiers, Gruevski said, will acquire positions that correspond to their qualifications and skills at the Ministries of Defence, Internal Affairs, judicial, forest police…

Today the Government also decided to adopt legal changes for providing financial support also to persons that lost their jobs or have been made redundant after 2004, namely to 31 December 2013. The regulation will cover former employees of state of dominantly state-owned companies.

This solution solves the problem to about 3.000 persons, who will get at least MKD 7.100, i.e. 34 percent of the average salary in 2013 plus a healthcare insurance. Necessary funds of EUR 4 million will be covered by the state budget, Gruevski said.

The two measures adopted by the Government will enable to over 7.000 citizens to overcome a serious challenge, Gruevski said.

Resolving of their status is not part of the Government's program, but after reviewing the analyses the cabinet has agreed that these measures may be put into effect, the PM said.