Skopje, 28 June 2025 (MIA) -- The new law in the works will include stricter controls and criminal responsibility provisions for the hospitality industry, according to State Market Inspectorate director Vlatko Stojkoski.

Speaking at a press conference Saturday, Stojkoski said the bill being developed would foresee much more rigorous fines for any violations by business owners.

"The hospitality sector can and has to be an example of a legal, responsible and competitive business," he said.

According to the SMI head citing official data, not a single business in Skopje has a valid night club license and there are only 14 valid night club licenses nationwide.

Stojkoski also said state inspectors had conducted 17,359 inspections between Nov. 1 and June 15, issuing 4,542 orders for businesses to pay a total of Mden 110 million in fines.

"Our work was not selective," the top state market inspector said, saying their goal was "to prevent illegal facilities operating without licenses, protect the consumers from inadequate conditions and raise the level of respect toward law provisions."

He also said the practice of "allowing one's own to do whatever they want and punishing the others" had to stop. mr/