Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic opened the conference about gender inequality in the area of employment, that was held in Media Center in Belgrade on the occasion of the appearance of publication “Labor market in Serbia – position of women aged 45+” and organized by the association “Women at the turning point”.

Commissioner Jankovic stressed that unemployed women in their forties and fifties are a precious resource for employers because of their knowledge and experience and that it is necessary to take a range of affirmative measures for their employment. She stated that gender inequality in the area of employment is not just limited on getting or losing a job, but is also expressed through the salary amount and restriction of possibilities for promotion, caused by prejudices about the capabilities of older female workers, as well as by patriarchal heritage.

Emphasizing the importance of this issue, Commissioner stated that the data from the presented publication would be incorporated in the regular Annual report, which the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality presents to the National Assembly, in order to make this problem more visible to Members of Parliament and other relevant authorities. She announced that Commissioner for the Protection of Equality will produce a Special report on discrimination at the labor market next year and invited all social stakeholders to use their influence to change a perspective on working competencies of women who are older than 45.

Data presented at the conference reveal that women over the age of 45 are more exposed to the risk of getting fired than men of the same age, while their chances for finding new employment are minimal, which endanger their economy and social status. Besides, the employment of women in this age is a great economic resource for the development of every country, including Serbia, that is measurable also through the increase of GDP.

Speakers at the conference were also the Director of SeConS program Marija Babovic, President of Managing Board of Association “Women at the turning point” Mima Perisic and Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Manager in UniCredit Bank Serbia Jasna Uzelac Braunovic.