• 2023-03-24

Debate: Amendments to the Law on Employing Foreign Workers - what will be the position of foreign workers in Serbia?

Socio-economic Rights and Sustainable Development project

On 24 March 2023, the Center for Democracy Foundation organised the debate: Amendments to the Law on Employing Foreign Workers - what will be the position of foreign workers in Serbia? The event was held as part of the Socio-economic Rights and Sustainable Development project.

Partaking in the discussion were: Mario Reljanović, Centre for Decent Work; Jelena Jevtović, Serbian Association of Employers; Jasmina Krunić, ASTRA; Dragan Todorović, Association of Independent Trade Unions Belgrade; Miroslava Jelačić-Kojić, Group 484; Jelena Ilić; Belgrade Center for Human Rights, Nataša Vučković, Center for Democracy Foundation.

It was pointed out during the discussion that socio-economic topics are most pressing for our people. Lack of trust in the institutions limits support for EU integration, including rule of law, which encompasses protecting the socio-economic rights of the Serbian population and all those working in our country. This is why the issue is vital. Human rights are equal for all and must be respected. We have foreigners who belong to vulnerable groups and government bodies have not adequately regulated the approach to the labour market and various other affirmative measures. The position of foreign workers in Serbia is very often equal to those of the domestic workforce. The official estimate is that approximately 20% of workers are employed ‘under the table’, but realistically this statistic is significantly higher. Trade unions were not included in the new working group organised to draft the law and there is a great amount of discrepancy between what has been written in the law and what happens in practice. The NCEU Working Group for Chapters 2 and 19 is against fragmentation of labour legislation, elements of which exist in the Law on Employing Foreigner Workers. It is our job to monitor drafting of the law and to speak up concerning any potential issues.

The debate was organised via the Social and Economic Rights and Sustainable Development project, with the financial support of the Olof Palme International Center.

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The debate was organised via the Social and Economic Rights and Sustainable Development project, with the financial support of the Olof Palme International Center.