Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2008 in reply to its 2005 direct request as well as the comments made by the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (CATUS). The Committee also notes the Government’s reply to the questionnaire for the General Survey on employment received in May 2009.

1. Formulation and implementation of education and training policies. The Government states in its report that the ability of the educational system to meet the needs of the labour market has become one of the major strategic issues for Serbia. Several crucial problems have been identified in the last few years, such as youth employment, accreditation and certification of skills, adult education, social partners’ involvement in decision-making within the educational system, and the definition of a human resources strategy. The Committee notes the concern expressed by CATUS as to the necessity to adjust the Serbian education system to labour market requirements and employers’ needs, and more generally as to the new trends emerging in the contemporary economic and social context. The Committee notes that human resources development is identified as one of the national priorities under Serbia’s poverty reduction strategy, the National Employment Action Plan for 2006–08 and the National Sustainable Development Strategy 2008–13, with the aim of promoting the creation of a knowledge-based economy providing a high standard of living and full and quality employment. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information illustrating the way in which it ensures effective coordination between the programmes of vocational guidance and training implemented and employment (Article 1(1) of the Convention). The Government is also invited to include information on the bodies competent in the field of vocational guidance and vocational training, with an indication of the cooperation procedures that have been established between them
(Article 1(1) to (4)).

2. Openness, flexibility and complementarity of systems. In its report, the Government refers to the Strategy of Development of Secondary Vocational Education and the Strategy of Development of Adult Education which were adopted in 2006 in the context of the reforms undertaken to modernize the education and training system. The two strategies are deemed to be complementary and harmonized with the concept of lifelong learning. The Committee notes that the Serbian vocational education and training system as well as adult education policies are currently being re-aligned to European Union standards. The Committee asks the Government to provide up to date information on the ways in which open, flexible and complementary systems of general, technical and vocational education, educational and vocational guidance and vocational training have been developed (Article 2).

3. Youth employment and training. The Committee notes that a National Youth Employment Policy and Action Plan 2009–11 has been prepared with the assistance of the ILO. A key outcome is to promote youth employment by enhancing the employability of young people, in particular through the development of an employment-oriented training system as well as better targeted active labour market policies, including motivation and career orientation training as well as enterprise-based training. The Committee notes from the analysis carried out in the Country Review of Employment Policy on Serbia, prepared by the ILO and the Council of Europe in 2006, that the content and quality of the skills and knowledge offered by the Serbian education system to young people do not meet employers’ needs and that young people, especially youth with low educational and training levels and those living in rural areas, are insufficiently covered by active employment measures. The Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information on the results achieved with regard to vocational training and vocational guidance through the measures taken to promote youth employment, particularly as regards young people with few or no qualifications and those living in rural areas.

4. Vulnerable groups. The Government reports that active employment policy measures implemented by the National Employment Service include education and training programmes, job mediation, professional orientation and job counselling with the purpose of ensuring a balance between labour demand and supply. Specific reference is made to training programmes promoting entrepreneurship. The Committee notes that under the new human resources development policies and programmes an effort is being made to refocus active labour market policy measures so as to reach in particular persons belonging to socially vulnerable groups. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report additional information on the policies and programmes intended to promote access to education, training and lifelong learning for people with special needs (Paragraph 5(h) of the Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195)).

5. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes CATUS’ remark that issues relating to employment and human resources development, although being vital for the country, are not submitted to tripartite consultation within the Economic and Social Council. The Government indicates in its report that the Economic and Social Council regularly examines education and training issues. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted to ensure the collaboration of the social partners and other interested bodies in formulating and implementing vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes. The Committee asks the Government to supply additional information on the consultations held within the framework of the Economic and Social Council and at local level regarding the questions covered by the Convention (Article 5).