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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - 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) and the Labour Union Confederation “Nezavisnost”, received on 7 November 2018. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Active labour market measures. The Government reports that the National Employment Strategy 2011–2020 sets out the main strategic objectives of its employment policy, which relate to the achievement of an efficient, stable and sustainable employment growth trend by 2020 and alignment of the national employment policy and labour market institutions with European Union requirements. It adds that the objectives to be attained include: promoting employment in less developed regions of the country and developing regional and local employment policies; improving the quality of the work force; developing the capacities of the relevant institutions, expanding active employment policy programmes and reducing duality in the labour market. In this context, the Government reports that the Active Employment Policy Measures (AEPMs) taken under the National Employment Action Plan for 2018 (NEAP 2018) are based on the situation and trends in the labour market, the needs of employers and the results of impact evaluations carried out with respect to previous measures taken. The Government indicates that the national employment policy focuses on groups in vulnerable situations who experience difficulties in finding employment, and which have been identified as “hard-to-employ” persons. The CATUS observes that persons belonging to these groups make up 70 per cent of those registered with the National Employment Service (NES), indicating that this implies an issue with labour demand. The Committee also notes the adoption of the Economic Reform Programme 2018–2020, which aims, inter alia, to enhance the effectiveness of AEPMs, focusing on young persons, redundant workers and the long-term unemployed. In addition, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the Employment and Social Reform Programme, which seeks to increase the employment rate and improve the status of young persons in the labour market. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated detailed information on the impact of the policies and measures implemented to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. In particular, the Committee requests information on the nature and impact of the activities carried out under the 2018 National Employment Action Plan. It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken, including under the Economic Reform Programme 2018–2020, in tackling long-term and youth unemployment and promoting the employment of “hard-to-employ” persons.

Article 3. Consultations with the social partners. Nezavisnost observes that, until 2017, constructive dialogue took place in the form of regular meetings of the Working Group for the development of the National Employment Action Plan. However, Nezavisnost indicates that, since that time, there has been a noticeable reduction in the quality and scope of tripartite dialogue, given that the social partners now participate in meetings only when they are requested to provide comments on documents that are already prepared. Moreover, Nezavisnost considers that the deadlines set for providing comments are insufficient to enable initiation of genuine dialogue. Nezavisnost reports that the last meeting of the Working Group for the development of the NEAP was held in October 2017, and that no meetings were held in 2018. In response to the Committee’s previous request, the Government reports that the local employment councils play a key role in supporting employment in less developed areas and that the employment action plans constitute key instruments of local employment policy. The Committee notes that, in 2017, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs (MOLEVSA) and the National Employment Service (NES) held four regional meetings on the “Role of local government units in accomplishing employment policy objectives”. These meetings were attended by 166 representatives of 70 local government units, the NES and its branches, MOLEVSA, other institutions, the social partners, donors and experts. The meetings resulted in joint conclusions, in the form of guidelines for the development of employment policies on the basis of local trade market needs. The Government also reports that, in order to promote the AEPMs to be implemented in 2018, four regional meetings were organized in cooperation with the Standing Conference of Cities and Municipalities, bringing together 134 representatives from NES branch offices and local government units. Nezavisnost observes that the local employment councils lack records concerning their membership, as well as of the level of participation of the social partners. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the manner in which the experience and views of the social partners have been taken into account in the formulation and implementation of employment policy measures, and the outcome of this process. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the nature and scope of consultations held with representatives of the persons affected by the measures taken, such as women, young people, persons with disabilities, the Roma population and other concerned groups, in relation to the formulation and implementation of active employment policies and programmes, as required under Article 3 of the Convention.