Debate “Between Law and Practice: Labour Rights of Education Workers in Serbia Today”

On 10 March 2026, the Center for Democracy Foundation organized a public debate on the topic “Between Law and Practice: Labour Rights of Education Workers in Serbia Today”, as part of the project “Labour Rights and Decent Work in Socio-Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black on White”.

The discussion featured contributions from: Aleksandar Baucal, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade; Nikola Ćurčin, Independent Union of Education Workers of Serbia; Tatjana Prijić, Institution of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality; Katarina Šćepanović, Forum of Belgrade Gymnasiums; Slavica Manić, Union of the Faculty of Economics; Ozren Slović, Attorney at Law; Jasna Janković, Professor of Literature; Miroslav Markićević, Centre for Education Policy; Dejan Dželebdžić, Union of the Faculty of Philosophy; Nataša Vučković, Center for Democracy Foundation. The event was also attended by: Branislav Pavlović, former President of the Education Union of Serbia; Brankica Janković, Expert, former Commissioner for the Protection of Equality; Zorica Mršević, Faculty of European Legal and Political Studies; Jovan Protić, International Labour Organization; as well as representatives of academic and educational institutions, among others.

Recently, numerous public questions have been raised regarding the labour and legal status of employees in the education sector, including the legality and transparency of hiring and termination procedures, the availability and effectiveness of legal protection, as well as the professional autonomy and dignity of the teaching profession. These cases have highlighted the need to more carefully examine the relationship between the normative framework governing labour relations in education and its practical implementation. Although the existing legislative framework provides protection mechanisms for employees, practice frequently raises questions about their efficiency, as well as the capacity of institutions to ensure legal certainty and equal treatment of employees within the education system.

The discussion assessed that the employment status of education workers, coupled with constant pressure from the executive power and legal uncertainty, ranks among the greatest problems facing education in Serbia. Society’s attitude towards education has been inadequate for decades, and the education system, along with its employees, has become even more vulnerable over the past year. We witnessed a major expression of dissatisfaction among education workers, which was further joined by dissatisfaction and solidarity with pupils and students following the roof canopy collapse in Novi Sad.

Over the past year, we have seen a set of governmental measures that operated to the detriment of labour rights, security, reputation, and the credibility of the entire education system in Serbia. The authorities used everything that happened last year to finalize the process of centralization and complete control over education, the foundations of which were laid by the 2017 Law on the Foundations of the Education System, which we criticized even back then.

We are witnessing total passivity from the National Education Council at such a crucial moment for education. There is immense legal uncertainty; institutions that are supposed to react either fail to do so or even abuse their authority, while court decisions are not respected. It is essential to strengthen the capacities of the education inspection and the labour inspectorate. Furthermore, empowering trade union organizing among education employees is necessary.

What is happening in education, but also in healthcare and other areas of social life, shows that we are dealing with a political structure that is fiercely neoliberal. This is a context of general societal, economic, and social trends where everything is monetized. We see an intention to turn public education into private; our message is that knowledge is not a commodity – knowledge must be accessible to everyone. Universally accessible education guarantees the progress of the community and the progress of individuals.

Autonomy is highly important, especially in societies like ours, where there is a need to emphasize certain general values and principles, such as democracy, freedom, civic culture, and civic values. In such societies, the University has a special role to advocate for and remind us of these values in a way, acting in a socially responsible manner. It is necessary to dedicate attention to preschool education as well as primary and secondary schools, and to emphasize the important role of public schools, which must respond to societal needs. Society needs to send a message to schools, teachers, as well as young people and new generations, that education matters.

If we want Serbia to be a knowledge society, then we must base education on people who are creative, independent, autonomous, who possess integrity and dignity, and who will pass this on to children and youth. Our society needs an educational system in which dignity and integrity are guaranteed to everyone engaged in education and upbringing.

The discussion concluded that it is unrealistic to expect education workers to carry the burden of societal change on their own. It is crucial that all actors in society show solidarity with education, that this solidarity is demonstrated through action, that we mobilize, organize, and help one another, and that education employees see that they are not alone. We must take action and fight for the survival of education. All the aforementioned problems cannot be resolved within education alone; they can only be resolved within a new social blueprint.

The debate was organized with the support of the Olof Palme International Center, as part of the project “Labour Rights and Decent Work in Socio-Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black on White”.