Segol: Reforms call for social dialogue

BELGRADE - Decisions about amending an important law such as labor law cannot be made without respect for opinions of all social partners, Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Bernadette Segol has said.

A labor law cannot be decided on in an office and a top-to-bottom approach is not the way in which we can create sustainability of reforms, as it is important to negotiate with key and relevant people, Segol told Tanjug during her visit to Serbia in the middle of this week.

She said that social dialogue is one of the most important elements to ensure sustainability of any planned reforms and decisions about important issues, such as labor law, should never be made without consultations with the unions.

Segol said that a recent withdrawal of proposed amendments to Serbia’s labor law was a good move as the proposed draft gave rise to sharp disagreements between trade unions and employers, where the unions believe its provisions would break the backs of workers alone.

The biggest problem in Serbia is its high unemployment rate, Segol said. Also, a large number of workers who work for an employer off the books, lack of control over implementation of collective agreements which, all put together, prevents citizens from living a dignified life, she added.

Segol expressed satisfaction about seeing the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS) and the United Branch Trade Unions 'Nezavisnost' (UGS Nezavisnost) working together now, calling it a good step forward and noting that it is important that the two trade union organizations cooperate during economic and social change.

The ETUC will fully back their further efforts to improve labor legislation, Segol...