Government departments are pushing massive new hiring. After the Defense Ministry announced contracts for 200 new soldiers, the Interior Ministry issued a bid for 600 new police officers and the Customs Agency plans to hire 119 border agents.

The new police officers will be distributed in Skopje (100), Strumica, Ohrid and Bitola (50 each), in the rapid reaction unit and in regional centers. The Customs Agency is seeking agents for the crossings in Gevgelija, Bitola and Kumanovo, even though passenger traffic is nearly at a stand-still.

These institutions are often used to hire activists of the ruling parties.