Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Serbia (Ratification: 2000)

1. Labour market policy measures. The Committee notes the Government’s reports received for the period ending July 2005. It notes that a National Employment Strategy was adopted in April 2005, which highlights the need for a regional approach to labour market challenges in the three regions of the country (Belgrade, Vojvodina and Central Serbia) and an increase in foreign direct investment as prerequisites for economic growth and the achievement of a social agreement through continuous social dialogue. According to the labour force survey data, Serbia has a significantly low rate of participation (27 per cent) in the youngest population category (15-24 years of age) compared with the participation rate of that age group (around 50 per cent) in the European Union. The participation rate (55 per cent) of the oldest category of the active population (55-64 years old) significantly exceeds the participation rate of older workers for other countries in transition in the EU (around 30-40 per cent). In October 2004, only 41.7 per cent of employed persons were women. The unemployment rate rose to 18.5 per cent in 2004, as the labour force survey was conducted in accordance with the EUROSTAT methodology. The Committee notes that, through the National Employment Strategy and the legislative changes introduced, the Government intends to address the employment challenges facing Serbia. It would appreciate receiving further information in the Government’s next report on the impact on employment generation of the implementation of the National Employment Strategy (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention). It also asks the Government to report on the impact of the active labour market measures adopted in promoting employment for young persons and women.

2. In this respect, the Committee refers to its 2006 comments on the application of other Conventions relating to the operation of the public employment service, the measures taken to protect workers against unjustified dismissal and to integrate workers with disabilities into the open labour market (Conventions Nos. 88, 158 and 159) and asks the Government to include in its next report on the application of Convention No. 122 an assessment of how the legislative measures adopted to promote flexible forms of employment, as well as those to generate employment for vulnerable groups of workers, have contributed to the generation of productive and lasting employment in conditions that are socially adequate for all those concerned and, in particular, for those workers who are underemployed or in the informal economy.

3. The Committee notes that a biannual national employment plan has been formulated and is expected to be adopted by the end of 2005. The Government intends to evaluate its implementation regularly so that it can assess how to overcome any problems encountered in achieving its goals. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on how the measures taken to promote full employment operate within the “framework of a coordinated social policy” (Article 2).

4. The Government indicates in its report that the Roma population in Serbia represents a social group characterized by an extremely low level of activity and a high unemployment rate: only 27.2 per cent of the Roma population is active and the unemployment rate is four times greater than for the rest of the population. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated statistics on the employment of the Roma population so that it can examine the results achieved through the employment generation measures for Roma workers referred to in the report.

5. Participation of the social partners. The Government states in its report that full participation of all institutions and partners is the most important condition for successfully achieving the objectives of the National Employment Strategy objectives. The Committee refers to Article 3 and asks the Government to report in detail on the consultations held by the Social and Economic Council on the matters covered by the Convention. Please also report on the involvement of all the ministries concerned with social and economic policies in the consultation required by the Convention and indicate how the social partners have developed their capacity to enter into a constructive social dialogue in relation to decision-making on employment policies.