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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Government to debate labour bill

Belgrade, 25 October 2004

Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy Slobodan Lalovic said that the government is due to discuss a new labour bill in a few days.

Minister Slobodan Lalovic during public debate at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce

Author: Fonet

Attending a public debate at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) premises, Lalovic noted that the bill may undergo certain changes over the next few days, but said that the basic concept of the law will remain unchanged.

According to him, the work on the new law saw a conceptual difference between the Ministry, which advocated the pro-European stance on labour legislation, and the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and foreign investors, who all supported the non-European approach.

Lalovic added that he disagrees with foreign investors who believe that it is too early for Serbia to introduce European Union standards in its labour legislation, stressing that an unprotected labour force must not be Serbia's competitive edge in attracting foreign investors.

He went on to say that foreign investors' claims that the new law will discourage and even prevent further investment in Serbia are unacceptable, noting that each important provision of the new labour bill has been prepared in line with recommendations from the EU and the International Labour Organisation.