The Draft Law on Social Entrepreneurship does not recognise large firms

The Coalition for the Development of Solidarity Economy says that the proposed Draft Law on Social Entrepreneurship does not recognise associations, foundations and cooperatives currently employing about 10,000 people in Serbia, as holders of socio-entrepreneurial activities.

They note that the adoption of such a regulation, the public debate on which lasts until 23 November, would mean the exclusion of most of the existing social enterprises from the future legislation.

„The concept of social entrepreneurship is limited solely to labour integration, neglecting its social dimension, which is contrary to the practice in most European countries. The law should not prescribe status forms, but envisage the conditions under which the existing legal forms can be identified with social enterprises for labour integration,“ it is stated in a press release of the Coalition for the Development of Solidarity Economy.

It is also stated that the proposed provisions of the law allow social enterprises to be established by local self-governments and provinces, which is contrary to the current practice in the European Union and to the practice in Serbia thus far.

The Coalition for the Development of Solidarity Economy and the Civic Initiatives have called on the Government of Serbia and the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs to rename and upgrade the existing Draft Law on Social Entrepreneurship in the process of the public debate so that its title would fully reflect the subject matter it regulates.

Their proposal is for the Law on Social Entrepreneurship to be called the Law on Social Enterprises for Labour Integration, in order to enable legal and institutional support to vulnerable groups entering the labour market.

If the law is not renamed, the Coalition for the Development of Solidarity Economy will seek its withdrawal from the procedure.

The Coalition for the Development of Solidarity Economy consists of the European Movement in Serbia, the Initiative for Development and Cooperation, the „Smart kolektiv“ organisation and the Trag Foundation – the founders of the former Coalition for the Development of Social Entrepreneurship, established in 2010.

Izvor: Beta

Foto: Pixabay