GOOD NEWS FOR FREELANCERS: PAID YEARS OF SERVICE AND A CERTIFIED EMPLOYMENT BOOKLET FOR THOSE WHO WORK FOR FOREIGNERS AT HOME

16. December 2019.

Freelancer from Serbia who work for foreigners who are not registered in our country, will be able to pay for their years of service and have their employment booklets certified, which they could not do in the past.

Given the increasing number of freelancers working from their homes in Serbia for foreigners in England, America, Canada etc., by using their phones and computers, thanks to the amendments to the Pension and Disability Insurance Act, the state has decided to introduce them into legal flows, the “Politika” daily reported.

Thus, the amended law establishing the status of persons working in our country for foreign employers, which do not have registered offices here, enters into force on December 15.

By this law, freelancers will be introduced into the insurance system as self-employed insurers.

Article 12 of the existing law proposes the introduction of a new category of self-employed insured persons under the item that says “persons working in the territory of Serbia for a foreign employer who is not registered in Serbia, from whom they receive contractual benefits for their work, the so-called freelancers, if they are not compulsorily insured during that time, now they can be."

"This means that they will all be able to pay contributions to the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, and at the same time they will also be covered by health insurance," Jasna Petrovic Stojanovic said for the “Politika” daily. In doing so, they will regulate their status, and would ensure the continuity of their years of service as long as they pay for them.

The President of the Association of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia Ljubisav Orbovic welcomes this proposal and says that it is important for young people doing these jobs to understand the importance of a certified employment booklet and paid contributions.

Source: “Politika” daily, “Blic” daily, B92 and Coordination Body