Jovanovic: Seasonal workers' registration system in agriculture a good example for the "Open Balkan" platform

The National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) fully supports the swift establishment of a unified labor market between the countries of the "Open Balkan," and a good example of this could be the system that is already functioning in Serbia for registering seasonal workers in agriculture, Violeta Jovanovic, the executive director of NALED, said in an interview with Kosovo Online.

The system that has been successfully implemented in Serbia can significantly benefit the entire region and all economies facing a shortage of workers, especially during certain seasons in various sectors, Jovanovic stated. She is currently participating in the "Strategic Economic Talks" conference organized by SEEBDN in Savudrija, Croatia.

"Such a system would greatly contribute to ensuring the labor rights of seasonal workers. It would assist the private sector and employers in fulfilling their obligations in a simple manner, and of course, it would generate income for the states through the engagement of these workers. At the same time, it would provide real-time updated data that could help improve labor policies and respond to the needs of the labor market and employers," Jovanovic expressed her confidence.

She notes that it is important to learn from each other since the regulatory systems of the countries in the region are similar and there is almost no language barrier.

"That is the highway we should take, saving time and resources by implementing reforms that some of our neighbors have already undertaken, which can help us move quickly towards the European Union," Jovanovic said.

She also points out that the war in Ukraine disrupted supply chains, energy sources, and prices, and it had an impact on migrations throughout the EU, particularly in the region. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor trends in order for the country to respond promptly, faster, and more flexibly with appropriate measures and incentive policies and to meet the needs of the private sector primarily.

"We also promote and support the 'Open Balkan' initiative, the inclusion of all economies on such a platform, and we propose that alongside political motivation, we develop an 'organically authentic' one that will offer useful programs so that citizens and the economy can truly and quickly resolve procedures with the state without wasting time with bureaucracy. Such programs would be a direct stimulus for decision-makers in politics," Jovanovic stated.

She adds that NALED is proud of the solutions it has implemented in cooperation with the government, which have inspired decision-makers to follow such examples.

Jovanovic recalled that in 2016, NALED had assisted the Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure in launching an electronic permit issuance system, which had opened the doors for similar systems in other areas such as inspections, cadastre, and agriculture.

"I believe that by sharing such examples with others, we contribute not only to bilateral cooperation but also to the betterment of society as a whole and closer alignment with the European Union," Jovanovic concluded.