A seminar on “Labour rights and social dialogue in the Western Balkan and the EU” was organized by the Trade Union of Workers in the Construction and Building Materials Industry of Serbia together with BIE Int. (Bouw-Industrie & Energie International) from May 11 to 13 in Veliko Gradiste, Serbia. The seminar was organized in cooperation with EZA, took place within the framework of the EZA special project for workers’ organisations of the Western Balkans and was financed by the European Union.
39 representatives of workers’ organisations from the Western Balkans and the European Union attended the hybrid seminar.
The topics of the seminar were: the functioning of social dialogue in Serbia and the European Union, the role of the Social and Economic Council of the Republic of Serbia, harmonization of Serbian labour legislation and practice with EU and ILO law with special emphasis on the contribution of trade unions, ELA and social dialogue in European works councils of multinational companies, the right to decent work, women's participation in social dialogue, support for trade unions in strengthening social dialogue through institutions. Participants were presented with information in the field of wages, trade unions, women's participation in the employment process, unemployment, working hours during the week, civil and labour rights, the need to empower women for greater role and equality in decision-making, wages and social dialogue.
The following conclusions were adopted:
- In all countries, both at the EU level and the level of member states, there are certain problems in the functioning of social dialogue. Pandemic, neoliberal capitalism, economic recession, and now war in Ukraine, significantly affect the quality of social dialogue. Countries with the experience of many decades have the advantage because of their development and long-established mechanisms functioning at tripartite and bipartite level.
- In the Western Balkan countries, it has been noticed that employers' associations are structurally weak, and by the rule take the side of the state as the third party in social dialogue.
- Serbia harmonized the majority of its laws with the EU legislation, but the application of those laws is the problem.
- Functioning of social dialogue in Serbia has been slowed down, not only because of the very stagnation in the EU accession, but also because of the relationship among the participants in social dialogue in Serbia.
- Social dialogue in Serbia takes place and exists at lower levels through the cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs. It is very active and produces good results at that level. However, at the level of Social-Economic Council it is often an illusion or a feigned social dialogue.
- Trade unions must not allow themselves to become weak, but more energetic struggle is necessary, as well as more understanding and unity regarding demands sent to the state and employers with the aim to establish genuine and higher quality social dialogue.
- Trade unions primarily need to make it possible for women to have a role in negotiations and be represented in social dialogue.
- Trade unions need to be included more in the EU accession process.