Republican Trade Union of Employees in Banks, Insurance Companies and Other Financial Organizations of Serbia (RS BOFOS), in cooperation with the European Centre for Workers’ Questions (EZA) and funded by the European Union, organized a seminar with the theme: “Never stop learning, and be supported!“, which was held in Kladovo/Serbia from 11 to 15 June 2025.
The seminar was attended by 64 representatives of workers’ organisations from Bulgaria, Netherlands, Slovakia, Poland, North Macedonia, Denmark, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Portugal, Croatia and Serbia.
The project’s idea, which we successfully implemented, was to bring together representatives from educational institutions, trade unions, and experts who specialize in upskilling and reskilling. We have adopted conclusions, made recommendations, and agreed on joint actions. One of the seminar's most essential aspects was knowledge transfer through examples of good practice.
The seminar was highly interactive. Participants discussed examples of good practice and shared personal experiences related to the seminar topic at the Round Table.
There were two workshops held. The first one was about preparations for positions for negotiations, and it was a simulation of the collective bargaining process, according to the “Harvard model,” which covers topics related to loss of job due to artificial intelligence, new job description and training according to the document “The World Organisation of Workers (WOW)- Paper”.
The second one was an intercultural workshop, held outside, titled "Culture in Motion: Education through Games, Dance, Sports, Language, and Foods of Other Cultures." The goal was successfully achieved, which was the development of social, cultural, and physical competences, physical and mental health, contributing to the prevention of stress and burnout syndrome at work, as well as strengthening a positive working climate by informal learning, because the field of lifelong learning includes all activities that a person undertakes during life for the development of knowledge, skills, competences and personal growth - regardless of whether activities are formal or informal. The workshop, which was conceived in this manner, aligns with the recommendations of the EU and national strategies for lifelong learning, which emphasize the need to develop "soft skills" such as teamwork, communication, creativity, intercultural sensitivity, and experiential learning.
Conclusions
Exchange of good practices related to training and retraining initiatives, including initiatives within the trade union is important. In an era of rapid transformation driven by technology and evolving job markets, lifelong learning is not just beneficial – it is essential for personal fulfillment, professional adaptability, and societal resilience. To turn this necessity into a reality, it is recommended that governments, employers, and unions collectively implement concrete measures, such as paid learning leave, individual development plans, and a transparent upskilling system, that ensure all workers have the opportunity to continuously grow, adapt, and thrive.
Cooperation with educational institutions, employers, cooperative unions, and labor organizations, as well as with experts dealing with the process of additional qualification and requalification is needed, to agree on actions in which we would contribute to find at least part of the solution to the problem of lack of skills.
The arrival of young forces in the union is crucial. As trade unionists, we must be aware that there will also be a change of generations at the level of trade union leadership. That is why we need to find a sustainable training and skills acquisition system for young union leaders. Everywhere in Europe, the trade union is weakening. With young, educated, and professional trade union leaders, we can hope for the recovery of the trade union movement.
The development of digitization and artificial intelligence and its application in the economy will continue. That is why unions should advocate employee training as a strategic imperative for companies in the fight against skills shortages and also as an imperative within the trade union movement itself.
Trade unions should encourage the cultivation of the principle of lifelong learning since it is precisely one solution to the lack of skills. We should support lifelong learning initiatives at all levels because continuous acquisition of knowledge and skills is necessary. Investment in "The Union Skills" is an investment in a strong and resilient workforce. By ensuring all employees have access to relevant education and lifelong learning, we not only meet the challenges of the future but also create new opportunities for growth and innovation. So, never stop learning, and be supported!
Creating inclusive and supportive learning environments for individuals with learning difficulties is essential to ensure that lifelong learning is truly accessible to everyone. Educators and professionals should actively implement clear communication, flexible accommodation, and structured yet empathetic approaches to embrace neurodiversity and empower all learners to succeed.