As part of the initiative “Supporting the Private Sector in Employment of Foreign Workers,” the second training session for employers who currently employ or plan to employ foreign workers was held on April 2 in Belgrade. The training was organized within the framework of the project Initiative for Global Solidarity,[1] implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Serbia, and in partnership with the Responsible Business Hub of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.
The aim of the training was to strengthen the capacities of employers in Serbia for responsible and efficient employment of foreign workers, by providing practical knowledge on legal procedures, employer obligations related to due diligence in supply chains, and effective methods for integrating foreign workers into the workplace and broader community.
The training was preceded by research conducted among companies in Serbia to identify key challenges and needs faced by employers in the process of hiring foreign workers. Based on the research results, a training curriculum was developed, tailored to the real needs of the business sector.
The training covered four key areas:
The training was delivered through interactive sessions, with active participation from employers. The sessions were led by Dr. Mario Reljanović, Research Associate at the Institute of Comparative Law; Katarina Kitanović, Project Coordinator at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights; and Nebojša Lukač, a lawyer specialized in sustainable business and ESG standards.
The training sessions held on March 20 and April 2 brought together over 30 representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as large companies across various sectors of the economy. During the sessions, participants emphasized the need for better access to information on current procedures, improved cooperation with relevant institutions, and more opportunities to exchange experiences with other employers. Evaluation forms indicated a high level of satisfaction with both the content and format of the training. Participants particularly appreciated the sessions on the legal regulation of the status of foreign workers, employer obligations and responsibilities, and the challenges of integration.
This training is part of a broader initiative aimed at supporting the private sector in establishing sustainable and fair employment practices for foreign workers, in line with international standards and the legal framework of the Republic of Serbia.
[1] The “Initiative for Global Solidarity” (IGS) project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
© photo: Belgrade Centre for Human Rights
