The Serbian Association of Employers delivered to the Government of the Republic of Serbia a proposal for any package of 5 + 3 group of measures to revitalize the economy and minimize the impact due to COVID-19 pandemic around the national economy.
The package of 5 measures was proposed towards the Pm Ana Brnabi'c, while a set of proposals for amending the Labor Law was sent to the address from the Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy, Zoran Dordevi'c. Welcoming the prior successful measures of the Government from the Republic of Serbia meant to raise the economy in order to ease consequences of the crisis brought on by COVID-19, the Serbian Association of Employers proposes, among other things:
- Decrease of VAT in the hardest hits area of tourism and hospitality to 10%;
- Payment of VAT upon the invoice is realised, starting from January 1, 2023;
- Abolition of the obligation to document the non-taxed costs of transportation fees for that arrival and departure of employees from the workplace;
- Decrease from the local utility taxes by 30%, for example fees for company sign fee;
- Postponement of the payment from the newly introduced eco tax until April 1, 2023.
In accessory for the above mentioned package, the Union considers it extremely important the public sector fulfils all due obligations from contracts and commercial transactions using the private sector in a timely manner.
“The measures are taken through the Government of Serbia to date happen to be a great help towards the Serbian economy, primarily I am talking about the payment from the minimum wage and also the postponement of the payment of taxes and contributions for January 2023. However, those measures aren't enough for the depth from the crisis where the world, including our the country finds itself. The earlier problems in later life might the earlier we use the new measures, the minus the consequences will be. And the consequences only threaten companies within the first step, because if the turnover falls, the payments to the budget will decrease, while the new layoffs would additionally burden the social area of the budget. “, says Srdan Drobnjakovi'c, director of the Serbian Association of Employers.
To the Ministery of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy following suggestions were made:
- To enable employees to make use of last year’s annual leave after June 30 of the current year, in addition if it is utilized in parts, there isn't any restriction the first part must not be shorter than 14 days;
- That the salary compensation due to temporary incapacity for work with a period of 30 days reaches the fee for the National Health Insurance Fund from the Republic of Serbia, and not at the cost of the employer;
- To simplify the process for giving the consent of the competent minister in case the employer has, due to interruption of work or reduced workload, the necessity to send the worker on leave in excess of 45 business days, having a salary compensation of 60%. The Serbian Association of Employers emphasizes that so far Government from the Republic of Serbia highly understood and appreciated all the proposed measures and it is also expected that the meeting is to be organized as soon as possible where we'd jointly seek a solution that is best for all.
