Skopje, 26 March 2025 (MIA) - Raising the safety standards that all hospitality buildings would have to meet, ensuring greater control in the process of issuing licenses, as well as providing a clear definition of the obligations of all state institutions related to the process are the aims of the announced amendments to the Law of Hospitality, Deputy Minister of Economy and Labor, Marjan Risteski, said at a press conference Wednesday.

“The weaknesses in the current legislation have led to inadequate coordination between institutions, greater freedom of the applicants for a license, as well as the issuance of licenses without a thorough inspection of all documents submitted alongside the application. The new amendments will eliminate all anomalies and clearly define the obligations of all bodies that are a part of this process,” Risteski said.

The Deputy Minister noted the need to establish higher safety standards, stressing that “human lives are more important than any profit”.

“We have to establish strict and clear procedures, which must prevent such failures in the future. This includes the fulfillment of the minimal technical criteria for operations, adequate fire protection standards, sanitary and health standards as well as the appropriate work safety requirements,” Risteski said.

According to the Deputy Minister, the inspections so far have identified numerous flaws in the existing legislation in terms of sanctioning, such as low fines, the inability of inspectors to shut down buildings in case of irregularities and others.

“To overcome these shortcomings we are conducting an analysis and creating draft amendments to several laws, and we will also provide proposals for amendments to the Criminal Code and the Law on Sanctions that would not only raise fines, but there will also be a possibility for this to become a crime,” the Deputy Minister said.

One idea, according to Risteski, is the creation of a commission that would inspect the minimal technical conditions and other requirements that nightclubs have to meet.

“Our goal in the future is for that commission to include several institutions and experts in the field that will provide a signed guarantee before the issuance of licenses to nightclubs, cabarets, etc.,” Risteski said.

Photo: MIA