A new EU-funded project led by the International Labour Organization has been launched in Skopje to strengthen workplace safety and health systems across North Macedonia. The three-year initiative aims to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses by developing a national occupational safety and health policy, aligning national laws with international labour standards, modernizing labour inspection, and introducing a digital platform to track and analyse workplace risks. Supported by government, employers, and workers’ organizations, the project places prevention at the centre of its reforms.
The initiative comes at a time when global data shows the enormous economic and human cost of unsafe workplaces. Worldwide, nearly three million people die each year from work-related causes, and hundreds of millions more are injured, costing the global economy about 4 percent of GDP. For North Macedonia, similar estimates suggest annual losses of up to 600 million euros. Although national labour inspectors carried out over 22,000 inspections in 2023, irregularities were found in half of the cases, underscoring the need for stronger systems and compliance.
Under the project, North Macedonia will develop a new national strategy for occupational safety and health for 2026–2030 and fully harmonize its legislation with ILO conventions and EU directives. Labour inspection will be upgraded through training, digital tools, and a modern case-management system, while a national digital platform will allow real-time reporting of workplace accidents and diseases. Employers and workers’ groups will receive targeted training and resources, and schools will integrate workplace safety topics to build a long-term culture of prevention.
By 2028, the project aims to deliver a fully adopted national strategy, a modern inspection system, and strengthened institutional capacity. Government officials and EU representatives emphasized that protecting workers’ health and lives is both a national priority and a core European value. The ILO highlighted the project’s collaborative approach, stressing that safer, healthier workplaces depend on strong social dialogue and shared responsibility across all sectors.
