Trust in institutions is built through actions, consistency, transparency, and fairness, but above all through work in accordance with the law. When the system functions properly, no one has to bow before injustice – we can all walk upright, emphasized Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, on the occasion of the international conference Festival of Law and Social Protection, organized in Leskovac under the title “We Retain the Right to Walk Upright” by the Association of Social Protection Lawyers and the Chamber of Social Protection.
As a participant in the panel “Through Trust in Institutions – Towards Evolution,” the Commissioner spoke about the trust that citizens place in institutions dealing with social issues, about the key problems in the social protection system which, in turn, affect the quality of life of citizens, especially those who need help and are often victims of discrimination, as well as about the importance of responsible and timely communication with the media.
The social protection system must be the foundation of any just society. It provides security to the most vulnerable — whether they are children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, or socially disadvantaged groups. In order to achieve progress in this sector, it is important not to be satisfied with the current situation, but to dedicate ourselves to its improvement, which is necessary to ensure equality, security, and a decent life for all, emphasized Janković.
In Leskovac, the Commissioner also presented the recommendation of measures, which, after receiving dozens of complaints from employees and trade unions in the field of social protection, she addressed to the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, aimed at amending and supplementing the Regulation on Coefficients for the Calculation and Payment of Salaries of Employees in Public Services, in order to equalize the coefficient for all employed professional workers and to respect the legal guarantee of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value.
