THIS YEAR, THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL WORKERS IN THE JABLANICA DISTRICT HAS BEEN REDUCED

29. September 2020.

Leskovac – In the first eight months of this year, as well as in the same period last year, the labor inspection performed almost the same number of about 1,300 illegal labor inspections in the area of Jablanica district. Last year, about 300 illegal workers were identified, while there were only 80 illegal workers this year, according to the data of the Department of Labor Inspection for the Jablanica district.

In the same period last year and this year, there were 11 unregistered business entities that never reported their activities.

“Illegal employment definitely exists, but it has been drastically reduced this year. The reasons for that are multiple: higher employment in large foreign companies, as well as the fight against COVID 19, because many firms that have the most illegal employment could not operate in the usual way. I first and foremost mean catering, construction and trade firms, "said Milica Kljujic Kitanovic, the Head of the Department of Labor Inspection for the Jablanica district.

A large number of employers make the same mistakes because they believe that the so-called probationary period should not be regulated by a contract.

“This is not true and is precisely governed by the Labor Law and the Law on the Central Register of Compulsory Social Insurance. Every work must be with an employment contract and must be paid," she said.

She explained that the laws regulate that before starting work, the worker must be registered, and the documentation on that must be at the workplace.

“It happens that workers work for 3 months and do not receive their salaries, and then they come to the labor inspection and report it. It is necessary to report that immediately, so that the inspection could respond in a timely manner", said the Head of the Department of Labor Inspection.

Fines for illegal employment for entrepreneurs are from 300 to 500 thousand dinars, for legal entities from 800 thousand to 2 million dinars and for a responsible person in a legal entity from 50 to 150 thousand dinars. Fines for unregistered physical persons are from 50 to 500 thousand dinars, and for legal entities from 200 thousand to 2 million dinars.

All reporting is checked, and that also applies to anonymous reporting, which there are from 2 to 3 per month.

In 2018, the Ministry of Labor, Veterans' and Social Affairs launched a project that still functions today, on the basis of which, by calling the toll-free number 0800 300 3007, undeclared work and other irregularities from labor relations may be reported anonymously.

Source: Jugmedia and Coordination Body