Working group set up to tackle new Labor Law

Working group set up to tackle new Labor Law

The intention is to adopt the law by June 30 this year, Ljajić told a press conference after the meeting he and First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić held with officials of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia, the United Branch Trade Unions Independence and the leader of the Association of Employers.

The duty of the task force is to define whether it is necessary to adopt a new labor law or work on amending the existing one, he said.

"Our goal is to produce a draft law by May 1 and complete a public debate by May 30 to ensure the law is adopted by June 30," Ljajić said.

The participants of the meeting agreed that they will meet every 15 days to monitor the progress of work on the law, he said.

This is the start of a new social dialogue, Ljajić said, expressing hope that it will result in a broadly supported labor law.

The Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia and the United Branch Trade Unions Independence were represented by presidents Ljubisav Orbović and Branislav Čanak, with the Association of Employers represented by Nebojša Atanacković.

Atanacković said that employers are pleased that tripartite discussions on the labor law have resumed

He said that the Association of Employers will make a full contribution to the work of the task force towards a law that will reflect reality, but also comply with European standards and cater to potential investors, regulating the areas of labor and capital.

"We will insist that the labor law be similar to the law that is now in place in the EU, to avoid having to change it later," Atanacković said.

Orbović said that the trade unions' goal is not to halt reforms but achieve the best possible solutions and adopt a law that will acceptable to all.

The trade unions are ready to cooperate and will focus all their energy on finding the best solutions possible, he said.

Orbović recalled that the previous solution was unacceptable to the trade unions because the Ministry of Economy has failed to take their demands into account.

"It was unacceptable to us because we had no one to negotiate with," he said.

The meeting is very encouraging as the social partners have reached an agreement on procedure, Čanak said.

"This is no concession to employers or trade unions, but a streamlining of national objectives," Čanak said.

The biggest problem previously was a lack of procedure, but it was practically defined on Friday, and the goals were set, he said.