The guidebook for developing anti-discrimination Code of Conduct for Employers containing directives for creation of anti-discrimination policy of employers in Serbia was presented at the conference „We don’t discriminate“, organized by Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, within EU twinning project „Support of improvement of human rights and zero tolerance for discrimination“.
Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, said that in previous years the greatest number of complaints submitted because of discrimination was related to the labor market and estimated that the Code is a practical document that can be useful both for employers and employees for achievement of full equality at work and employment.
Guidebook was created as a unique tool and help for employers for improvement and strengthening of mechanisms for protection and improvement of discrimination. At the same time, this conference is an opportunity to promote best practices for achievement of equality in public and private sectors, which have significant impact in further creation of quality business environment in Serbia, said Commissioner.
She stressed that the most productive worker is the one who is motivated and that big, successful companies that take care of their employees understand that.
Minister of economy, Goran Knežević, said that one of the government priorities is creation of same opportunities for all citizens in order to have decent life and added that even after one economic success we will see no benefit if we don’t care about respecting the human being.
Oskar Benedikt, Acting Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, said that EU helped program for suppression of discrimination in Serbia with EUR 1.2 mil. that also included the creation of the Code of Conduct.
Goal of this program, that will end this year, is to raise awareness on the need for combating discrimination in Serbia, explained Benedikt and noted that other countries in the region, but also in EU, are facing the same problem.
President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež, said that this business association is working on strengthening of their members’ awareness on the necessity of conducting socially responsible business. Čadež stressed that Commissioner’s reports point that discrimination in Serbia is most common in the area of work and employment and that significance of the Code is therefore great.
Anti-discrimination policies in business and good practices were speech topic for: Ronald Seeliger, General Director of Hemofarm Group, Giorgio Marchegiani, Chairman of the Executive Board of DDOR Novi Sad, Stanka Pejanović, Managing Director of Gorenje and Chairperson of Serbian Association of Managers, Afrodita Bajić, owner of AMC fashion company, Niall Crowley, author of the first Code, Maja Aleksić Ilić, Managing Director of Aleksić Winery, Ljiljana Karaklajić, owner of D Express company, Borislav Miljanović, director of Represent Communications, Zoran Martinović, National Employment Service Director and Violeta Jovanović, NALED Executive Director.
Marina Simeunović, Tamara Mišković and Nikola Stanojčić spoke about how young people see combat against discrimination at the labor market in Serbia.
