Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

Professionals from public institutions, businesses, trade unions and civil society are now better equipped to recognise the warning signs of labour exploitation and trafficking and know how to respond.

This comes after a training workshop which brought together representatives of relevant state institutions, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the Serbian Employers’ Association, trade unions, companies participating in the Chamber’s Council for Corporate Social Responsibility and civil society organisations. The aim was to strengthen their practical knowledge and improve co-operation in protecting workers at risk of exploitation.

As the number of foreign workers in Serbia continues to grow, some workers may face increased risks because they often have limited knowledge of their rights, face language barriers, or depend on employers and recruitment intermediaries. Warning signs include withholding worker’ identity documents, unpaid wages, excessive working hours or inadequate working and living conditions.

During the workshop, the participants learned how to recognise these warning signs, identify people who may be at risk, and use available protection and referral mechanisms. Special attention was given to the new legislative and institutional framework and to strengthening cooperation between public authorities, employers, trade unions, civil society and the private sector.

The training had a strong practical focus, with participants working through a range of real-life examples and engaging in lively discussions. The exchange enabled participants to share experiences, raise practical questions and explore appropriate responses to situations involving vulnerable foreign and domestic workers. Discussions also highlighted the importance of early identification of risks and responsible recruitment and employment practices.

The workshop was organised by the Council of Europe, within the action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Serbia”, which is part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, in co-operation with  the Ministry of the Interior, National Anti-trafficking Coordination Office and the International Organization for Migration.