At its sixteenth session, held on 20 October, the Committee on Labour, Ex-Servicemen’s and Social Issues discussed the Bill on Health and Safety at Work, proposed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and endorsed it in principle. Officials of the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Policy took part in the Committee’s session.

The explanation of the Bill states that the field of protection at work, which had previously been regulated by Federal legislation and collective employment contracts, was a narrower field in the system of security and health protection at work, established by EU directives and Conventions of the International Labour Organisation. The Bill is in harmony with international conventions and EU directives, and aims at ensuring complete protection at work, and preventing risks that may lead to injury at work.

The proposed solutions introduce a system of responsibility and liability of the employer in preventing accidents and organising security and health in the workplace. Among other things, the employer is to be obliged to estimate risks, prioritise risk management, designate areas of increased danger at work, and draft measures to prevent work injury.

The Bill also provides for a system whereby employees elect representatives who are entitled to propose measures, attend labour inspection visits, and request reports of inspections conducted. A professional examination is planned to be required for employees engaged in tasks of protection, security and health care in the workplace.