World Day for Safety and Health at Work Marked: Safety and Health at Work Must Also Address Psychosocial Risks!

Skopje, 28 April 2026 – On the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, an event dedicated to the psychosocial aspects of work, stress, workers’ mental health, and the need to create healthy psychosocial working environments was held today at the Alexandar Palace Hotel in Skopje. The event was organized by the Council for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) of the Republic of North Macedonia and supported by the project “Towards a Safe and Healthy Working Environment in North Macedonia”, implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with financial support from the European Union.

The central message of the event was that safety and health at work should not be limited to physical protection alone, but must also include systematic care for mental well-being, work organisation, stress prevention, and the creation of working environments in which people can work with dignity, safety, and productivity. This topic is also in line with the broader objectives of the project, which aims to contribute to a more modern, integrated, and preventive national framework for occupational safety and health, aligned with ILO and EU standards. 

The event opened with welcome addresses by representatives of institutions, the European Union, the ILO, employers, trade unions, and the Occupational Safety and Health Council, who conveyed a common message that addressing modern workplace risks requires a coordinated approach, strong social dialogue, and a clear commitment to prevention. 

Mr. Gani Maksuti, Director of the State Labour Inspectorate, within the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, stated that “compared to the data for 2024, we have seen a decrease in fatal workplace injuries. That is 13 compared to 8 — meaning 5 fewer fatal cases. In the field of OSH, 8,922 inspections were planned for 2025, while 10,748 were carried out, representing a 20% increase.”

He added that “only through a systematic approach by all relevant stakeholders can unwanted consequences, such as serious and fatal workplace injuries, occupational diseases, and work-related illnesses, be reduced to a minimum. Our commitment remains clear: a professional, transparent and efficient Inspectorate that works in the interest of the state, workers, and the lawful operation of the economy.” 

Mr. Alexandru Albu, Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia, said that “the European Union strongly supports North Macedonia in its efforts to build a modern culture of prevention with European standards for safety and health at work and a comprehensive approach to workers’ well-being.”

“Work is not only about contracts, wages or productivity. It is about dignity, balance, respect, and mental well-being. That is why the European Union supports building a culture of prevention, where working conditions protect and empower people rather than overload them.” 

Prof. Dr. Jasmina Chaloska, President of the OSH Council, emphasized that “safety and health at work must not become a matter of public attention only when a tragedy happens in the workplace. They must be a constant priority and part of everyday practice. This is an area that does not tolerate delays, politicisation, or personal vanity. On the contrary, it requires an exceptionally high level of individual and collective responsibility from all actors in the system. I sincerely hope that in the future we will witness a significant reduction in such incidents, and even their complete prevention.” 

Mrs. Vladanka Trajkoska, President of Organization of Employers of Macedonia (OEM), stressed that employers have an important role in creating healthy organizational cultures:

“Designing healthy psychosocial working environments must be seen as a process: from raising awareness to concrete measures and a systemic approach. This means open communication, stress prevention, employee support, and building an organizational culture in which mental health is a priority.” 

Mr. Slobodan Trendafilov, President of Confederation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM), underlined that “we must remember the dead and fight for the living. Unfortunately, in North Macedonia today it is not safe to go to work and return home — saying goodbye to your family before going to work must never be the last goodbye. Today we are discussing psychosocial risks in the workplace, but we must not forget the psychosocial risks faced by the families who have lost a loved one due to a workplace accident. Instead of facing 72-hour working weeks that are outside all international standards, we must use collective agreements to cement the protection and dignity of the worker.” 

Mr. Angel Panev, Vice President of the Council for OSH at the KSS, pointed out that the issue requires the involvement of all social partners:

“This day is a commemoration of all those who have lost their lives in the workplace, but also an obligation for all of us – the social partners, the profession, and the scientific community – to create conditions in which future generations will face far fewer problems in their workplaces.”

Mr. Emil Krstanovski, ILO National Coordinator, called for an urgently needed transformation, stressing that:

“The people who lose their lives at work or because of work are not just statistics — they are someone’s sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, parents, and spouses. We must return to the fundamental values of our society: solidarity and social justice, instead of greed and servility.”

As part of the expert segment of the programme, Prof. Dr. Sasho Stoleski spoke about the psychosocial aspects of work, emphasizing the importance of preventing psychosocial risks through appropriate work design and work organization. He highlighted the shared responsibility of employers, employees, and occupational medicine in building a culture of open communication, trust, and psychological safety, with the aim of reducing burnout and fostering a productive working environment.

This was followed by Prof. Dr. Dragan Mijakoski, who addressed stress and workers’ mental health in the context of the European Research Area, stressing the key role of European networks, such as COST Actions, in shaping evidence-based intervention strategies. He noted that these issues require a multi-layered approach that combines scientific research and practical solutions, with particular focus on emerging challenges such as the impact of climate change on employees’ well-being. 

The programme continued with online contributions by international ILO experts. Mrs. Claire Harrasty, Director, ILO Office for Central and Eastern Europe, Budapest, and Mr. Joaquim Núñez Pintado, Head of the Occupational Safety and Health Sector, ILO Geneva, provided introductory reflections on the importance of the topic at global level, while Mr. Manal Azi, Expert on Security Policies and Systems, ILO Geneva, spoke about the psychosocial work environment: global trends and directions for action, with a particular focus on the need for policies that place prevention at the centre. 

A particularly important part of the programme was the presentation “Why is a psychosocial work environment important? Experience from Norway”, in which Caroline Grodal, Senior Advisor, Department of Knowledge and Legislation, Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, shared practical experiences and approaches on how institutions and workplace organisations can systematically identify and manage psychosocial risks. This international example provided an additional perspective on how prevention can be translated into real mechanisms and policies. 

In the session dedicated to the project, Mr. Milan Petkovski, Project Coordinator, ILO, reflected on psychosocial issues through the prism of the project “Towards a Safe and Healthy Working Environment in North Macedonia”, underlining that although the occupational safety and health system is functioning, with 26,484 inspections carried out and 6,359 irregularities identified, the data show that the focus remains predominantly on visible, physical risks. At the same time, psychosocial risks remain insufficiently recognised and recorded, despite their direct impact on health, productivity, and organisational culture. 

The event concluded with an interactive workshop on “Designing Healthy Psychosocial Working Environments: From Awareness to Action”, led by Prof. Dr. Dragan Mijakoski and Prof. Dr. Sasho Stoleski. The workshop enabled a further exchange of views and experiences among participants and opened space for discussion on concrete steps that can be taken in institutions, companies, and organisations to strengthen prevention and improve mental well-being in the workplace. 

Today’s event sent a clear message that the future of safety and health at work depends on the ability of the system to recognise and address all risks – visible and invisible. The psychosocial work environment, mental health, and quality of working life are an important part of that picture and must be integrated into public policies, institutional practices, and the day-to-day functioning of workplaces. 

The project “Towards a Safe and Healthy Working Environment in North Macedonia” continues to work on strengthening the national framework for occupational safety and health through reforms, institutional strengthening, digitalization, support for social partners, and raising public awareness, with the ultimate goal of safer, healthier, and more sustainable workplaces for all.