Being a laborer in North Macedonia is like “working in a mine field”. That is what the Association for the Protection of Workers assesses, in the international day for security and health in the workplace. Milan Petkovski from the association says that the state hasn’t done enough to protect laborers.

“We’re a highly risking country, regarding workplace. There are more odds of dying, getting sick or hurt while working. We’re becoming shortsighted, so we want to send the message that security while working is a fundamental right that can’t be violated,” he says.

According to data by the ILO, 22 people died last year in North Macedonia, in work related accidents.

In 16 years, the total of dead persons reaches 567. The worst year in record is 2008 with 62 dead workers, while 2016 had the lowest figure, with 16 dead.

The most dangerous sector is that of agriculture, due to accidents by heavy working machines.

“The civil sector is the only that keeps a registry of all victims who’ve lost their lives or gotten sick while working. The state so far, has done nothing to create a national registry, to identify all those people who have passed away in the workplace,” report Euronews Albania correspondent, Ferikan Iljazi.

A national registry is a necessity, according to the civil sector. It would create policies that protect workers and punish those who don’t take account of their health and lives.