Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, Zoran Djordjevic said today that the initiative to create a “small Schengen” with Northern Macedonia and Albania will not jeopardize jobs in Serbia, but will contribute to the creation of a single labor market, which will accelerate the arrival of large investments.
In a statement to Beta, Djordjevic said that the arrival of large investments always accompanies small and medium-sized enterprises, which need such large markets.
In such circumstances, opening the border and creating a single labor market, Djordjevic said would make the Western Balkans even more attractive for investment, as there would be skilled labor in a larger territory, which is the basis of the initiative to create a “small Schengen”.
The minister said that the smooth flow of labor “will in no way jeopardize jobs in Serbia, which is supported by the fact that the number of work permits issued so far to foreign nationals from Northern Macedonia and Albania, according to the National Employment Service, a total of about 630 work permits were issued this year.”
“This initiative, launched thanks to President Aleksandar Vucic, means, first and foremost, a major step forward for regional economic integration and economic prosperity in the Western Balkans, but also for further strengthening regional stability. Thanks to the initiative to create a ‘little Schengen’, it was agreed that Serbian citizens, Northern Macedonia and Albania can only enter their countries with an ID card”, Djordjevic said, adding that “Serbia’s commitment is to compete for new jobs.”
Djordjevic said the ministry, headed by him, was involved in drafting the “Draft Agreement between the Governments of Serbia, Albania and Northern Macedonia on the freedom of movement and residence of the citizens of the Compact Parties”.
“Until recently, it was hard to imagine that Serbia, Albania and Northern Macedonia would discuss the single labor market, and today we are on the right track to settle the freedom of movement, residence and work of citizens of the Western Balkan countries by mutual agreement”, Djordjevic said.
The Minister said that from January 1, 2020, an employer, ie a company from Serbia wishing to hire a foreigner, will have the opportunity to initiate the procedure for issuing a work permit at the same time while the long-stay visa approval process is underway.
“The process will be able to be initiated even though the foreigner is still abroad and the process of obtaining a long stay visa is in progress. Software has also been created that will allow the foreigner to register electronically (when crossing the border), after which they will be considered to have applied. By applying for a temporary residence, a foreigner will exercise his right to employment without the need to obtain a work permit”, said Djordjevic.
He added that the decision will be applied after the signing of the agreement and after the ratification of the agreement is completed in the Assembly.
Djordjevic said that the permit for work in Serbia for foreigners is issued by the competent branch of the National Employment Service, if the residence is previously regulated, that is, if the foreign citizen holds a long-stay visa based on employment in Serbia.
“Serbia is a country of rapid development, and thanks to the reforms it is implementing, as well as the established macroeconomic stability, Serbia has become an attractive country for investment, that is, for foreign investors who want to invest and transfer their knowledge to domestic employers in Serbia”, Djordjevic said.
Djordjevic said that in such circumstances we are facing a shortage of labor, and that by establishing a “small Schengen”, employers will be able to easily hire a skilled workforce.
.
