Enterprises in the green transition: Macedonian employers explore risks and opportunities

SKOJPE (ILO News)- With support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organization of Employers of Macedonia (ORM) convened its member enterprises for a dedicated event under the ILO-GIZ project "Promoting Social Dialogue on Just Transition Issues." The session aimed to engage businesses in North Macedonia's evolving climate-policy processes and help them prepare for the green transition already underway.

Participants were briefed on the key regulatory developments shaping the national climate agenda, including the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the forthcoming Law on Climate Action, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and emerging obligations related to greenhouse-gas reporting and compliance.

Focus on opportunities for business

While regulatory changes pose challenges, discussions highlighted the strategic opportunities that the green transition can unlock-ranging from the creation of green jobs and access to green finance, to strengthened competitiveness in EU markets and incentives for low-carbon innovation.

The event sought to:
- Raise awareness of new climate regulations and their implications for business;
- Present findings from Private Sector Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy in North Macedonia-the first study reflecting MSMEs' own perspectives on NDC-related impacts;
- Enable an open dialogue on challenges, opportunities and support needs;
- Showcase the Business Case for a Just Transition, encouraging initiatives that make the transition fair, inclusive and economically viable.

Key takeaways

Discussions underscored the need for strong institutional support, enhanced enterprise capacity to adapt, and accessible finance to enable compliance and low-carbon investment.

Crucially, the event reaffirmed the central role of the ORM in supporting companies through this complex transition. When enterprises speak with a unified voice, their needs are better understood and more effectively addressed.

Looking ahead

With ILO support, the ORM is strengthening its ability to articulate business perspectives and contribute meaningfully to national climate-policy processes. These discussions mark an important step toward formal inclusion of the ORM in ongoing NDC dialogues-helping ensure that North Macedonia's transition is not only green, but also just, fair, and driven by the realities of the private sector.