The Protector of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen: Every fourth employee in the PRIVATE sector LOST HIS JOB

According to an assessment of the association „Protector of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen“, every fourth employee in the private sector lost his job during the pandemic.

Trade unions warn that there are those among Serbian employers who use crisis to get rid of redundant workers or to reduce wages of other employees.

This association reminds that the data on the number of those who lost their jobs was obtained on the basis of an internal research that relied on analyses of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), according to which 510,000 jobs are either endangered or extinguished due to inadequate and non-selective measures in Serbia.

„According to the EBRD report „Covid-19 and employment“, 14.8 percent of businessmen’s workhours remained unused by measures adopted by state. This is equivalent to some 510,000 full-time jobs. However, we cannot do a valid analysis on whether those positions are only endangered or terminated during the pandemic, because the Government has introduced a new methodology for determining employment, according to which everyone who works at least an hour during the week and gets something in goods/services or money is employed,“ Predrag Mitrovic, president of the association reminds.

He adds that an important role in the analysis is played by a huge number of those who work illegally, who are not registered anywhere or work for a minimum wage. „That is what state does not solve, and it should do so as soon as possible,“ Mitrovic added.

This association reminds that many businessmen did not agree to the last state aid of half the minimum wage, because they were conditioned by the fact that they are not allowed to lay off employees in the following period.

Izvor: 021

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