The right to decent work implies equality—equal opportunities for women and men to work in conditions of freedom, safety, and human dignity, as well as the principle that no one should be treated unequally in the labor market, paid less, or denied any employment-related right solely because of a personal characteristic, said Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, at the opening of the conference “Is There Decent Work for the Citizens of Serbia? Between Reality and Possibility,” organized by the Center for Democracy Foundation with support from the Olof Palme International Center.
The topic of labor and social rights must be among society’s top priorities, as employment is of existential importance to every one of us. Supporting this is the fact that the highest number of complaints submitted to the Commissioner are related to discrimination in the field of labor and employment—most often based on gender, marital and family status, and frequently also on membership in trade unions, political, or other organizations, Janković pointed out.
She emphasized that when adopting regulations and public policies, it is necessary to carefully define all labor law mechanisms, and that it is especially important to assess the impact of such regulations and policies on socioeconomically vulnerable individuals or groups, and ensure they align with the principle of equality before they are adopted.
Reducing workplace discrimination also requires that workers know how to protect their rights, and that employers understand the importance of equality, said the Commissioner. She added that it is encouraging to see that hundreds of companies, business associations, and chambers of commerce have joined the Partnership for Equality initiative.
Speakers at the conference opening also included Nataša Vučković, Director of the Center for Democracy Foundation, and Danilo Milić from the Olof Palme International Center. The main topics of the conference were the state of labor rights in Serbia, changes in labor legislation, the role of trade unions in protecting workers’ rights, and greater involvement of young people.
