Serbia

In Serbia, workers’ access to courts and judicial recourse was severely impeded by the imposition of high legal fees and other expenses. Moreover, workers suffered from undue delays in the adjudication of labour disputes and had to resort to international mechanisms, such as the European Court of Human Rights, to seek justice.

In Serbia, employers have often dismissed, transferred, or demoted workers and trade union members (or used threats of such measures) to deter them from joining trade unions or engaging in trade union activities, as was the case at Yura Corporation, a cable and harnessing manufacturing company.

Employers also attempted to establish yellow unions in many public companies, including the Post Office.

In Serbia, ever since 2019, when the three unions at the publicly owned Republic Geodetic Authority (RGA) jointly organised strike action, trade union members have experienced discrimination and intimidation by the management.

In mid-2022, when union leaders addressed a sudden stoppage of the RGA work and publicly blamed management, the RGA administration engaged in a direct attack on trade unions and their spokespersons. It suspended the three trade union presidents, and implemented transfers, disciplinary proceedings and other retaliatory measures against trade union activists.

In Serbia, national trade unions have tried to renegotiate the General Collective Agreement since its expiry in May 2011, but faced strong opposition from the Serbian Association of Employers. Although the bargaining committee of the representative trade unions was formed in time, and negotiations were initiated prior to the expiry of the Agreement, the Serbian Association of Employers interrupted the process, without an explanation, after the second meeting. There has still been no progress in negotiating a new General Collective Agreement, despite efforts made by the trade union confederations and the Social and Economic Council.

In Serbia, employers often refused to enter negotiations with the representatives of trade unions, unduly delayed negotiations, or circumvented workers’ representation by entering into individual negotiations with workers.