More than 100,000 foreign workers registered in Serbia last year – tougher controls
The arrival of foreign workers in Serbia has long ceased to be a matter of choice and has become a necessity. There are around ten times more of them than a decade ago, particularly in construction, hospitality, and transport.
Daniel Igrec, Assistant Minister for Labour, spoke to Radio Television of Serbia about the procedures the state is introducing following the increase in the number of foreign workers and the countries with which cooperation will be intensified.
Serbia became a more attractive destination for job seekers two years ago after legislative changes extended the permitted period of residence and employment and digitalised the process of obtaining permits. Serbia is now entering a new phase in regulating the labour market through negotiations on labour mobility.
The first country with which Serbia launched negotiations on a Labour Mobility Agreement a week ago was Uzbekistan.
Daniel Igrec, Assistant Minister for Labour, explained during an appearance on the news programme the reasons why Uzbekistan was chosen as the first country for negotiations.
Why Uzbekistan?
“Uzbekistan is a country with which Serbia wishes to establish a strategic partnership. It is one of the fastest-growing economies in Central Asia, a so-called gateway to expansion into Central Asia, and a country with exceptionally hardworking workers who, when they go abroad for employment, respect the social order, culture, and customs of the country in which they work,” said Igrec.
He added that an interesting fact is that among Uzbek workers in Serbia, there is zero per cent crime, with no recorded offences, and that they are extremely diligent, which is another reason Serbia opted for Uzbekistan.
“The third reason is that Uzbekistan, before sending its workers abroad, provides them with training, teaches them the language of the destination country, familiarises them with its customs, culture, and traditions, and fully prepares them so that, upon arrival, they can integrate completely and perform their work in line with employers’ expectations in those countries,” said Assistant Minister Igrec.
The agreement is expected to be harmonised by the autumn, as the President of Uzbekistan is scheduled to visit Serbia in October, when the signing of the agreement is expected.
Discussions are still ongoing regarding other countries with which negotiations on labour mobility could begin, but the aim of future agreements is to ensure that all labour migration takes place within legal frameworks. With the growth in the number of foreign workers and applications for unified residence and work permits in Serbia, which exceeded 100,000 last year, monitoring the import of labour has become increasingly challenging.
Additional checks on foreign workers introduced in 2024
On 1 February 2024, Serbia began implementing amendments to legislation introducing additional checks on foreign workers, Igrec explained.
“The Ministry of Labour monitors the implementation of the law, and both regular and extraordinary inspections are carried out. What we have found so far is that foreign workers engaged in Serbia are often not sufficiently informed about their rights. Together with its international partners, the Ministry is implementing projects and training programmes to ensure these workers are made aware of their rights. What is important to emphasise is that labour mobility agreements introduce the principle of equal treatment, meaning that foreign workers are not granted any additional or greater rights than those enjoyed by domestic workers in Serbia,” Igrec stated.
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