The gender pay gap remains one of the most overt and measurable indicators of disparity globally, rooted in traditional attitudes that disproportionately assign unpaid domestic work to women. In North Macedonia, this gap persists at roughly 12%, often driven by the concentration of women in lower-paying sectors like care and education. However, the situation is most critical for Roma women, who face a ‘double-burden’ of gender inequality and social exclusion.

Due to a combination of rationed socio-economic rights and a discriminatory job market, Roma women are hence bound to a “vicious cycle of poverty.” In fact, the World Bank (2024) reports that 87% of the total Roma population in North Macedonia live in material deprivation, with women suffering the most severe impacts. Compounded by a staggering 81% NEET rate (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) among young Roma women aged 18-24, the depth of the pay disparity compared to both men and non-Roma women is a significant challenge that demands targeted intervention.

While the overall landscape of pay parity does not entertain a ‘quick fix’, dedicated programs and organizations are beginning to turn the tide. By focusing on formalizing labor and providing specialized entrepreneurship tools, the following three initiatives are creating a new blueprint to reduce the gender pay gap for Roma women in North Macedonia. 

1. The Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI)

The Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI) acts as a cornerstone for economic mobility by bridging the gap between “informal potential and formal enterprise” for marginalized groups. The initiative successfully lays the foundations for Roma people to build sustainable career portfolios through three primary objectives:

• One-to-One Mentoring: REDI provides direct coaching focused on building essential business acumen, leadership skills and operational know-how.
• Employment Support: The program offers comprehensive career guidance, including CV development and job placement.
• Digital Transformation: REDI aids Roma-led businesses in adapting to a changing digital environment.

By taking a bottom-up approach, REDI has established a supportive framework through which Roma people and women are able to build their own opportunities. Within the first 6 months alone, REDI was able to map 140 Roma entrepreneurs and 273 unemployed Roma individuals. 

2. ROMANSE 

The ROMANSE (Social Entrepreneurship for Young Roma Women) project is a specialized initiative that the European Union funded. Established in April 2024 and set to run through March 2027, the project is a collaborative effort between the Roma Resource Centre and the Women’s Rights Initiative of Shuto Orizari in North Macedonia, alongside international partners from Greece and Belgium. The program aims to tackle the ‘double discrimination’ of gender and ethnicity by promoting social entrepreneurship to subsequently enable the integration of Roma women into society and the economic sphere. In order to fulfil this objective, ROMANSE utilizes several key strategies:

• Capacity Building for CSOs: The project strengthens Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to better support Roma women in business.
• Targeted Training: Young Roma women receive specialized training to develop business skills.
• Grant Schemes: ROMANSE provides essential funding through “grant schemes for grassroots CSOs.”
• Community Awareness: By facilitating local partnership and awareness-raising activities, the project fosters a supportive environment for Roma-led businesses.

To date, the project has already initiated focus groups and digital training modules to ensure that young Roma women have the resources to secure equal-pay positions in the modern labor market. By focusing on sustainable business models rather than just temporary aid, the program is ensuring a long-term reduction in the wage gap for North Macedonia’s most vulnerable group.

3. The World Bank: Investing in the ‘Care Economy’

The Government of North Macedonia, with support from the World Bank, has restructured how care is valued in North Macedonia through its Social Services Improvement Project (SSIP). This initiative tackles the gender wage gap at its roots by formalizing historically unpaid domestic and caring roles into professional, stable career paths. The SSIP established a contracting model that combines “public resources with private expertise” that offers home-based care for the elderly and people with disabilities. Since 2021, the project has achieved significant measurable results for marginalized groups: 

• About 773 professional caregivers have gained formal employment through SSIP-funded services, particularly women and Roma.
• About 120 Roma women joined the workforce through an innovative social mentoring scheme, supported by World Bank and the European Union, that provided them with training and certifications as professional care providers.
• Approximately 1,600 elderly beneficiaries now receive home-based support enabling them to live both more comfortably and independently.

Looking Ahead

Although there is still a long way to go to close the gender pay gap for Roma women, the efforts made by these programs demonstrate a clear path forward. By dismantling the barriers to formal employment, these programs are ensuring the integration of Roma women into economic society as well as laying the crucial foundation for future financial independence. 

The transition into the formal workforce offers far-reaching social benefits that extend beyond a paycheck. Stable, registered employment provides Roma women with increased security through personal pension contributions and the freedom that comes with financial autonomy. By utilizing a bottom-up approach, these development schemes do more than offer immediate relief; they actively dismantle the cycle of generational poverty. As education and employment rates rise among Roma women, the positive effects directly manifest in the next generation. Supported by a mother earning a steady, fair wage, young girls are no longer forced to enter the labor market prematurely or marry early as a means of survival. Instead, reducing the gender pay gap for Roma women safeguards their futures, paving the way for a generation of empowered young women, ultimately strengthening the economic fabric of the entire country.

– Jessica Daly

Jessica is based in Tunbridge Wells, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

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