Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Serbia (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes the Government’s report, as well as the observations made by the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (CATUS), received on 7 November 2018. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 1(1)–(4) and 5 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of education and training policies. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes that the priorities established by the National Employment Action Plan for 2018 (NEAP 2018) include improving labour market institutions, improvement in labour force quality and investment in human capital, in order to build the capacities of the unemployed and reduce mismatches between demand and supply on the labour market. The Government adds that employment-related services provided by the National Employment Service (NES) and private employment agencies include vocational guidance and career counselling. In response to the Committee’s 2013 request, the Government indicates that institutions in the areas of education, employment, youth support and other stakeholders from the public sector and civil society collaborated in implementing the Strategy for Vocational Guidance and Counselling, the Strategy for the Development of Education in Serbia and the Strategy for the Development of Adult Education (SEDS) through a range of activities aimed at the development of an efficient system for vocational guidance and counselling. The Government reports that an evaluation of the first five years of implementation of the National Employment Strategy 2011–2020 showed significant improvement in the vocational counselling services provided by the NES. Moreover, the NES implementation procedures have been modernized, and instruments for employability assessment and further enhancement of individual employment plans were developed. In its observations, the CATUS indicates that, to establish a balance in offer and demand in the labour market, priority must be placed on improving the adult education system, vocational secondary education, higher education, and on the adjustment of vocational standards. In respect of cooperation with the social partners, the Government indicates that the NEAP is developed and implemented with the involvement of the social partners, relevant ministries, institutions and other stakeholders. Moreover, during the preparation of the NEAP 2018, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs organized consultative meetings with the representatives of local self-government units and local employment councils, to obtain information concerning potential problems and obstacles encountered at the local level. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated detailed information on the nature and impact of the vocational education, guidance and training policies and programmes adopted and implemented. The Committee further requests the Government to continue to provide specific information on the involvement of employers’ and workers’ organizations in the development, implementation, monitoring and review of such policies and programmes.

Article 2. Openness, flexibility and complementarity of systems. The Government reports that measures taken in the field of vocational education and training include the provision of job matching services for jobseekers, active job search training and job clubs, vocational guidance and career planning counselling, and further education and training for both unemployed and employed persons. The Government adds that its Annual Further Education and Training Programme for 2018 is based on labour market needs analysis, and promotes lifelong learning. The Committee notes that vocational counselling services for students, unemployed persons and employed persons who wish to change their employment are provided by all NES branch offices throughout Serbia, as well as in centres for information and vocational guidance, located in NES branch offices and local self-government units. The Government indicates that one of the most important measures taken to increase the relevance of education in Serbia is the adoption of the Law on the National Qualifications Framework in April 2018. The National Qualification Framework (NQF) seeks to orient the national education system towards learning outcomes that build competencies defined by qualification standards, and affirm the importance of key, general and cross-cutting competencies for lifelong learning. The Law establishes a National Qualifications Framework Council, which gives recommendations on the planning and development of human potential in accordance with public policies in the areas of lifelong learning, employment, vocational guidance and counselling. In addition, the Committee notes the adoption of the Law on Dual Education in November 2017, which establishes an educational model for the vocational secondary education system according to which students acquire competencies in accordance with qualification standards and school curricula, through lectures and practice in school as well as through working for an employer. The Committee notes that there was a significant increase in the number of spots for students in dual education from 1,482 in the 2017–18 school year to 3,500 in the 2018–19 school year. In addition, during the reporting period, service standards for career guidance and counselling were developing by a working group led by the Institute for the Improvement of Education, which are intended to improve guidance and counselling services provided to different target groups and sectors. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed updated information on the development of open, flexible and complementary systems of general, technical and vocational education, educational and vocational guidance and vocational training, as well as on the impact of such systems.

Articles 1(5) and 3. Specific categories of persons. The Government indicates that the educational system in Serbia is legally required to ensure inclusive education. It adds that, due to the need to improve the position of young persons, workers who were made redundant, workers with no or low qualifications, long-term unemployed persons and persons with disabilities, special service packages have been developed. These provide for inclusion in further education and training programmes, entrepreneurship training – particularly for young persons – and training in active job seeking, among other services. In its observations, the CATUS expresses the view that it is necessary to, among other measures, improve the quality of the labour force. The Committee notes that, in accordance with the NEAP 2018, active employment policy measures prioritize certain categories of persons deemed to be “hard to employ”. These include young people of up to 30 years of age, persons over the age of 50, persons with no or low qualifications, persons with disabilities, persons belonging to the Roma community and the long-term unemployed. Special priority is given to unemployed persons who simultaneously face multiple factors that affect their employability. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding a series of professional rehabilitation activities implemented by the NES and educational institutions, among other actors, which seek to increase the employability of persons with disabilities. These activities include vocational guidance, professional information, counselling and individual employment plans, vocational training, further training and retraining. The Committee notes that in 2017, a total number of 8,621 unemployed persons with disabilities benefitted from active employment policy measures. The Government also prioritizes the inclusion of persons belonging to the Roma minority, referring to the development of a project on “Tools for Preventing Roma Dropout” in June 2018. With respect to young persons, the Committee notes that, in 2017, 4,977 persons under the age of 30 benefited from information and counselling services on entrepreneurship. The NES training “Road to Successful Entrepreneur” was completed by 3,262 persons under the age of 30. The Committee notes that, in 2017, 56,617 young people were included in active employment policy measures, with the most popular measures being active job search training (17,366 participants) and job fairs (19,893 participants). The CATUS observes that there are currently 22,000 unemployed persons with higher education degrees, affirming that the waiting time for a job according to official data is two years, but that in practice this period is twice as long. It also expresses the view that reforms in education and training in Serbia have not yet been fully implemented. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed up-to-date information on vocational training and vocational guidance measures for persons with disabilities, persons from the Roma community and young persons, as well as other categories of “hard-to-employ” persons. It also requests the Government to continue to provide detailed up-to-date information on measures taken to increase the participation of these categories of persons in education, including compulsory basic education. The Committee further requests the Government to provide detailed information, including disaggregated statistical data on the impact of such measures on access to lasting employment.

Article 4. Lifelong learning. The Government indicates that, in accordance with the NEAP 2018, it promotes lifelong learning, aimed at improving the competitiveness of the labour force. The Government refers to the Further Education and Training Programme, which is a component part of the annual National Employment Action Plan, and is adjusted to the demands of the labour market each year. The Committee notes that, within the Programme for Further Education and Training 2018, the following are realized: internship programmes, programmes for acquisition of practical knowledge for persons without vocational qualifications, workers made redundant and long-term unemployed persons by entering into an employment contract with a private sector employer, labour market training aimed at enhancing employability of unemployed persons, specialist IT training and training at the employer’s request. Vocational training programmes are offered to different target groups of young people, such as unemployed young persons who have completed their secondary education and have no work experience, as well as young people with no qualifications. The Government indicates that, by participating in the programme, young people acquire work experience and concrete practical vocational and general knowledge and skills, which is reflected in increased employability and competitiveness on the labour market. The Committee notes that, in 2017, more than 6,916 unemployed persons were included in the Further Education and Training Programme realized by the NES. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the nature and impact of the measures adopted to promote an inclusive system of lifelong learning.