Today, the European Week for Safety and Health at Work was marked in Skopje at an event organised by the Council for Safety and Health at Work, with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO), within the framework of the project “Towards a Safe and Healthy Working Environment in North Macedonia”, funded by the European Union.
The event featured addresses by the Minister of Economy and Labour, Besar Durmishi; Claire Harasty, Director of the ILO Office for Central and Eastern Europe; Prof. Dr Jasmina Čaloska, President of the Council for Safety and Health at Work; Mauro Mascioli, Programme Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia; and Maja Papatolevska, National Focal Point of EU-OSHA.
Svetlana Ristovska Antić, Executive Director of the Organisation of Employers of Macedonia (ORM), addressed the topic of workers’ mental health, which is a key focus of this year’s activities.
In her address, she emphasised that occupational safety and health involve not only protection against physical injuries and occupational diseases, but also care for mental health and the creation of a healthy and supportive working environment.
Particular emphasis was placed on the impact of psychosocial risks and workplace stress on workers’ health, motivation and productivity, and consequently on the overall performance of companies. A coordinated and continuous approach involving institutions, employers and workers is therefore essential. Such an approach should encompass prevention, open communication, employee support and the development of an organisational culture in which mental health is a priority.
In addition, Ristovska Antić highlighted the importance of the Risk Assessment Tool, developed by ORM with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which enables companies to identify and assess workplace risks more easily. This tool provides significant support to employers in strengthening preventive measures and creating a safer and healthier working environment, including through the timely identification of psychosocial risks.
🏆 National Award for Good Practices in Occupational Safety and Health Presented
The National Award for Good Practices in Occupational Safety and Health was also presented as part of today’s event.
We are particularly pleased to announce that LUTHMAN BACKLUND FOODS PRODUCTION DOO Bitola, a member company of ORM, received the award for the company with the best-implemented occupational safety and health system for 2026!
🎉 Our sincere congratulations to the company on this well-deserved recognition! The award serves as an incentive to continue implementing good practices and investing in safer and healthier workplaces.
ORM remains committed to promoting safe, healthy and supportive working environments, recognising that caring for workers’ health is an investment in people, productivity, competitiveness and the long-term sustainability of companies.
