Skopje, 25.03.2025
Dear media,
Please allow me to start with extending my deepest condolences for all those who were killed and injured in the tragic event in Kocani. I wish the injured a speedy recovery.
The Ministry of Economy and Labor, as an institution that also covers the hospitality industry, was fully prepared to cooperate with the competent authorities from the first day of this tragic event. As a Ministry, we provided full support in all legal proceedings, ensuring that any violation of the law and any abuse to be appropriately sanctioned.
Today I would like to inform you about all the competencies that the Ministry of Economy and Labor has in the area of ​​issuing licenses and of course the following measures and legal solutions that will be adopted and that are within our competence.
In terms of licensing, according to the Hospitality Law, in order to operate a night bar, cabaret, disco club and open-air disco club, a valid license must be obtained. This license is issued by the Ministry of Economy and Labor by submitting a request for a license on a form for payment of fees for providing services.
The following documentation shall be submitted with the application:
1) Decision for entry in the trade register issued by the Central Register of the Republic of North Macedonia (original not older than 6 months);
2) Decision for determining the amount of the fee for a cabaret, night bar, disco club and open-air disco club, adopted by the municipal council.
3) Application for meeting the minimum technical requirements for performing hospitality activities (in copy);
4) Consent from the state administration body competent for matters in the field of internal affairs that the conditions for the protection of public order and peace and traffic safety have been met (in original).
The Ministry of Economy and Labor, acting upon the submitted request, reviews the documentation containing acts and documents issued by other institutions and, based on it, if the conditions are met, is obliged to issue the License for performing hospitality activities in a night bar, cabaret, disco club and open-air disco club with a validity period of 1 (one) year.
The Ministry of Economy and Labor is not competent nor does it have a mechanism for inspecting, supervising or controlling the facility in which the activity will be performed. Regarding the amount of the fee to be paid by the person performing the activity, it is determined by the municipal council. 50% of the fee is paid to the municipality's account, and 50% is paid into the Budget of the Republic of North Macedonia.
Attached to the request, the stated form "Application for meeting minimum technical requirements for performing hospitality activities" is a form that the legal entity fills in with the required basic data about the entity, the activity, a room for personal hygiene of guests, special provisions for employees, capacity for serving space, ventilation, number of exits for emergency situations and many other criteria, whereby the legal entity declares that the data provided in the application are true and submits the form to the regional department of the State Market Inspectorate.
Regarding the Consent from the state administration body competent for matters in the field of internal affairs that the conditions for the protection of public order and peace and traffic safety have been met, the applicant may submit a request for the same to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and if he does not submit it, the Ministry of Economy and Labor will ex officio request an opinion from the Ministry of Interior. After receiving the opinion from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Economy and Labor prepares the appropriate License for which the request was submitted.
If a negative opinion is received regarding the fulfillment of the conditions listed above, the Ministry of Economy and Labor will issue a Decision to reject the application and the requested license will not be issued. If, during the period of validity of the License (1 year), the Ministry of Interior determines that a certain entity has changed or does not meet the conditions for which it is competent to conduct control and supervision, it will notify the Ministry of Economy and Labor, after which the Ministry will issue a Decision to revoke the issued License.
Every legal entity, regardless of the activity for which it is registered, including all hospitality facilities, before starting work, must submit Application or Notification for starting work to: Mayor of the municipality, Labor Inspectorate, Directorate for Protection and Rescue, Food and Veterinary Agency (if it prepares and serves food), PRO and other competent institutions provided for in accordance with the positive legal regulations in the Republic of North Macedonia, which documentation is understood to have been submitted, after which it can submit an application for the issuance of a License for performing hospitality activities in a night bar, cabaret, disco club and open-air disco club.
I would like to inform you that at a Government Session held on March 18, the Ministry of Economy and Labor was instructed to begin preparations for amendments to the Hospitality Law. These amendments will enable the verification of the minimum technical conditions for operation to be conducted before the issuance of the operating license. Thus, the Application for Fulfillment of the Minimum Technical Conditions for Performing Hospitality Activities, before being submitted as accompanying document in the license application, will need to have a confirmation of its authenticity from the State Market Inspectorate.
Finally, I would like to say that the Ministry of Economy and Labor is committed to ensuring that the law will be respected and anyone who has violated the law should be held accountable. Citizens have the right to be informed in a proper manner and to demand accountability. Responsibility has a name and surname and I expect that all responsible persons will be punished. Justice must be established.