The Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia has published a ‘White Book’, spelling out ways to improve conditions for workers and pensioners and create a better society in Serbia.
“All the recommendations, requirements and solutions that the biggest trade union confederation in Serbia has called for are published in our trade union book,” said CATUS President Ljubisav Orbović at the launch event. He urged all trade union organisations to get actively involved in discussion on the proposals, in order to put together an overall view of existing problems and offer workable remedies.
One of the factors that worsened the already difficult social-economic position of Serbian workers and citizens was privatisation, leading to the loss of many businesses. If the authorities had listened to union proposals, many of those factories would have been saved through becoming workers' joint-stock companies, argued Orbović. He said new Labour Law should not be enacted without public debate and social dialogue.
Law Professor Zoran Ivošević praised trade union efforts to use the book to put forward different solutions and alternatives. He called for legislation to extend trade union membership to part-timers and workers with temporary and occasional jobs. At the moment in Serbia the number of permanent employment contracts is almost equalled by atypical jobs.