1. Budapest, 10 & 11 February 2010 CONFEDERATION OF AUTONOMOUS TRADE UNIONS OF SERBIA „PROMOTING THE RIGHTS OF AND REPRESENTING WORKERS ENGAGED IN INFORMAL LABOUR RELATIONS“ ITUC/PERC – FNV Project REPORT ABOUT THE INFORMAL ECONOMY IN SERBIA Sanja Paunovic, M.Sc PERC PAN-EUROPEAN TRADE UNION COUNCIL

2. Key Indicators of the Labour Market in Serbia for the periods 2002 - 2008 Employment (in 000) Unemployment (in 000) Labour force participation rate Employment rate Unemployment rate 20023.00046056,148,613,3 20032.91950055,747,614,6 20042.93166566,453,419,5 20052.57471965,251,021,8 20062.51769263,649,821,6 20072.52658463,451,518,8 20082.64645762,653,314,7 Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Labour Force Survey

3. Labour Force Survey: Informal employment rate: Informal employment rate: in October 2009 decreased by 2.4%, in comparison to October 2008 in October 2009 decreased by 2.4%, in comparison to October 2008 in April 2009 decreased by 1.4%, in comparison to April 2008 in April 2009 decreased by 1.4%, in comparison to April 2008 Informal employment presents share of persons employed in non-observed (black) sector of economy, out of total number of the employed. Non- observed economy covers employees in non-registered companies, employees in registered company, but without any legal working contract and without social and pension insurance, also including unpaid family workers. INFORMAL ECONOMY IN SERBIA 2008/2009 – BASIC INFORMATION Unemployment, employment and informal employment rates in April and October 2008 and 2009 – parallel review April 2008October 2008April 2009October 2009 Unemployment rate 13,314,015,616,6 Employment rate 44,744,241,640,8 Informal employment rate 23,623,022,220,6

4. Control of the labour contract in the Republic of Serbia Informal employment control, by the Labour Inspectorate, in 2009. Informal employment control, by the Labour Inspectorate, in 2009. 35,733 control over Serbia 35,733 control over Serbia 319,081 workers were controlled 319,081 workers were controlled 5072 workers without labour contracts 5072 workers without labour contracts 3649 workers were returned to the legal channels (Labour Inspectorate made employers register the workers) 3649 workers were returned to the legal channels (Labour Inspectorate made employers register the workers) Labour Inspectorate written 2262 request for setting violation proceedings. Labour Inspectorate written 2262 request for setting violation proceedings. Manny control’s were performed by Labour Inspectorate and two representative Serbian trade unions. Manny control’s were performed by Labour Inspectorate and two representative Serbian trade unions.

5. Formal and informal workers by age group and sex, Serbia, 2006 Young workers in the informal economy Source: ETF, Serbia: School-to-work transition survey, ETF, Turin

6. Formal and informal workers by education and economic sector, Serbia, 2006 Young workers in the informal economy Source: ETF, Serbia: School-to-work transition survey, ETF, Turin

7. Characteristics of informal and formal employment Informality rate Informal employment Formal employment Total43.3100.0 Sex Women43.540.340.0 Men43.159.760.0 Age group 15-2463.210.34.6 25-5441.075.983.2 55-6446.313.812.2 Education Primary or less 65.234.113.9 Secondary43.259.159.3 Higher education 16.26.826.8 Informality rate Informal employme nt Formal employ ment Region Belgrade31.815.625.6 Central Serbia47.154.847.0 Vojvodina45.229.627.4 Location Other56.155.633.3 Urban (city)33.744.466.7 Employment status Self-employed92.237.92.5 Employees26.646.497.5 Contributing family workers 100.015.7… Economic sector Agriculture87.038.14.3 Manufacturing25.817.438.0 Services37.144.657.7 Job experience (yrs) …18.319.0

8. ITUC/PERC SEE Office Sarajevo CONFEDERATION OF AUTONOMOUS TRADE UNIONS OF SERBIA TUC “Nezavisnost” in cooperation with: CONFEDERATION OF AUTONOMOUS TRADE UNIONS OF NIŠ and SWISS LABOR ASSISTANCE Round Table REPRESENTING RIGHTS OF WORKERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, ENGAGED IN INFORMAL ECONOMY Serbia, Niš, December 7, 2009

9. Round Table REPRESENTING RIGHTS OF WORKERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, ENGAGED IN INFORMAL ECONOMY Serbia, Kragujevac, December 23, 2009 ITUC/PERC SEE Office Sarajevo CONFEDERATION OF AUTONOMOUS TRADE UNIONS OF SERBIA TUC “Nezavisnost” in cooperation with: CONFEDERATION OF AUTONOMOUS TRADE UNIONS OF KRAGUJEVAC and SWISS LABOR ASSISTANCE

10. THE ROUND TABLES IN REPUBLIC OF SERBIA VRANJE, NOVEMBER 20, 2008 BELGRADE, MAY 28, 2009 NIS, DECEMBER 7, 2009 KRAGUJEVAC, DECEMBER 23, 2009 Participants - The round tables were attended by representatives: Participants - The round tables were attended by representatives: Local trade unions (the municipal and county) Local trade unions (the municipal and county) Branch TUs (Agriculture, Metal, Textile, Construction, Catering, etc.) Branch TUs (Agriculture, Metal, Textile, Construction, Catering, etc.) National Employment Service National Employment Service The Labour Inspectorate The Labour Inspectorate Social Economic Council Social Economic Council Serbian Chamber of Commerce Serbian Chamber of Commerce Local medium (TV, radio and newspapers). Local medium (TV, radio and newspapers). Key topicsTopics that were discussed at the Round Tables were: Key topics - Topics that were discussed at the Round Tables were: TUs principles concerning the Informal Economy; TUs principles concerning the Informal Economy; Status of Women engaged in Informal Economy; Status of Women engaged in Informal Economy; Identify and discussed informal economy challenges affecting unemployed; Identify and discussed informal economy challenges affecting unemployed; Social dialog as a means to address the IE challenge; Social dialog as a means to address the IE challenge; Policy if government institutions (participants) to reduce IE Policy if government institutions (participants) to reduce IE The successful example of the SSS Council – Smederevo on its efforts in the Informal Economy prevention as an eventual model for the other TU colleagues within the Republic of Serbia in their further joint efforts in the Informal Economy prevention. The successful example of the SSS Council – Smederevo on its efforts in the Informal Economy prevention as an eventual model for the other TU colleagues within the Republic of Serbia in their further joint efforts in the Informal Economy prevention.

11. Successes of unions dealing with informal economy The role of trade unions in Serbia was: Educational and informative (for all trade union members and persons working in shadow economy) Educational and informative (for all trade union members and persons working in shadow economy) Affirmative (for formal employment) Affirmative (for formal employment) Interactive – survey, questionnaire Interactive – survey, questionnaire Upgrade social dialog - local trade unions, government institution (National Employment Service and Labour Inspectorate), employers, Chamber of Commerce Upgrade social dialog - local trade unions, government institution (National Employment Service and Labour Inspectorate), employers, Chamber of Commerce Promote cooperation with the Labour Inspectorate, Tax Administration, Public Prosecutor’s Office and other institutions in charge of controlling the work in the informal economy Promote cooperation with the Labour Inspectorate, Tax Administration, Public Prosecutor’s Office and other institutions in charge of controlling the work in the informal economy Protection of workers Protection of workers Decrease of informal economy Decrease of informal economy Induction of informal economy to the legal framework Induction of informal economy to the legal framework Means for work was: flyers, leaflets, brochure,...

12. CONCLUSIONS FROM THE ROUND TABLES „Promotion of rights and representation of workers in informal economy“ For a successful action in the field of combating informal economy, it is necessary to fully and thoroughly inform and educate all members of trade unions as well as persons engaged in the informal economy For a successful action in the field of combating informal economy, it is necessary to fully and thoroughly inform and educate all members of trade unions as well as persons engaged in the informal economy It is necessary to do the networking of trade unions in the region and encourage exchange and cooperation of experts It is necessary to do the networking of trade unions in the region and encourage exchange and cooperation of experts

13. run joint initiatives towards the ITUC, ILO and other international organizations and apply together for obtaining the international projects that aim to decrease the volume of informal economy run joint initiatives towards the ITUC, ILO and other international organizations and apply together for obtaining the international projects that aim to decrease the volume of informal economy It is necessary to use the positive experiences of some local communities that went “further” in this field (in Serbia -Smederevo) It is necessary to use the positive experiences of some local communities that went “further” in this field (in Serbia -Smederevo) Special attention should be paid to strengthening and improving cooperation with the media Special attention should be paid to strengthening and improving cooperation with the media CONCLUSIONS (2) FROM THE ROUND TABLES „Promotion of rights and representation of workers in informal economy“