Labour Rights are Our Rights: Social and Economic Rights and Sustainable Development

Capacity building and networking of key actors in the defence of workers’ rights

The Center for Democracy Foundation continues to actively participate on improving dignified working conditions for Serbia’s entire labour force.

Over the last years, we have monitored and evaluated policies and the legal framework in the area of labour, employment and social inclusion, analysing draft laws and amendments to laws relative to this area and have proposed solutions and new practical policies.

Through expert analysis and research, we have gained new information and conclusions that have impacted other actors and decision-makers in the area of social policy and employment.

By providing training and workshops on the European Union’s legal framework and the principles of the United Nations, we have strengthened the capacities of the civil sector for a more comprehensive approach to solving workers’ issues in Serbia.

We have worked intensively on establishing collaboration and partnerships with NGOs across Serbia who deal with this topic, with trade unions, employers and representatives of the public sector.

Thanks to the topics we have brought into the limelight over the previous period (statistics and decent work - manipulation of statistical data concerning the numbers of employed and unemployed; profiles of workers who are employed via employment agencies and their personal experiences; the position of women in the labour market - employment opportunities and adequate earning from the viewpoint of gender (in)equality on the Serbian labour market; the social aspect of the European Semester - impact on programming the European Reform Programme in Serbia and many others), we have activated the public and the civil sector with the intent of ensuring that the concept of dignified work takes its rightful place on the list of priorities in the process of reform.

We continue to strengthen the capacities of key actors (trade unions, NGOs, employers, etc.), our focus also being on young people. We are excited about continuing to promote decent work through a range of new activities aimed at strengthening the CSO network, spreading knowledge and experience on the measures necessary to significantly improve the position of workers in Serbia.

This programme has been implemented with the support of the Olof Palme Center

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Social and Economic Rights and Sustainable Development is the continuation of a project implemented by the Center for Democracy Foundation in 2022 with the support of the Olof Palme International Center.

The overall objective of the project is the promotion of social and economic rights within the context of EU-oriented reforms in Serbia. This is done through the empowerment of the citizenry in terms of their rights, strengthening trade union and CSO capacities to participate in creating and monitoring public policy in line with the law. This is a human rights-based approach with the expanded collaboration of key actors, which leads to stronger networks at the national and local levels.

Targets:

Increasing knowledge and better understanding of available social and economic rights protection mechanisms and their application in public policy. This is performed through the promotion of decent work standards and the 2030 Agenda at the national and local levels;
Better collaboration among trade unions and CSOs, and their exchange with other stakeholders in resolving social and economic rights, as well as the needs of vulnerable groups;
Public policy is monitored on a human rights-based approach and policies are advocated for that align with the EU Acquis and implementation of the 2030 Agenda.