A Tetovo resident physically attacked a social worker at the Intermunicipal Center for Social Work in Skopje yesterday, damaging property and threatening other employees. The incident occurred just a month after a similar attack in Prilep, raising concerns about the safety of social workers.

The 41-year-old social worker was at his workplace when the Tetovo resident stormed the institution. The attacker not only physically assaulted the social worker, but also damaged inventory by throwing hard objects. He further threatened other employees present at the center.

Following the attack, the Ministry of Interior stated that they are taking measures to investigate the case.

This incident follows a shooting that occurred a month prior in Prilep, where a social worker was injured. In that case, a 50-year-old man, who had previously escaped from a psychiatric hospital, shot the social worker. The victim was hospitalized with a gunshot wound and the attacker was detained after it was discovered that he was stalking her.

These attacks have prompted protests from social workers across the country, who have long warned of the dangers they face and the lack of protection. They are demanding that attacks against them be treated as attacks on an official and are asking for physical security, psychosocial support, better working conditions, and stricter sanctions for perpetrators.

During these protests, social workers emphasized that they face daily threats, verbal and physical attacks while performing their duties. The lack of adequate security measures in Social Work Centers not only endangers their physical and mental health, but also compromises the quality of services they provide.