Agro Info Caravan for farmers and seasonal workers is starting
Agricultural producers and seasonal workers from 15 local governments all over Serbia will be able to get acquainted with the simplified procedure of engaging in seasonal jobs through a web portal and mobile application, with Agro Info Caravan arriving in their city, organized by NALED with the support of German Development Cooperation.
Following the successful implementation of the reform, which introduced electronic registration of seasonal workers, field promotion is key to understanding the benefits of legal engagement, for both employers and workers.
The results of the reform are satisfied businesses and workers. Undeclared work in this area was reduced by 37% during the first year alone. So far, about 44,000 seasonal workers have been registered, and their rights secured, while budget revenues have been increased by four million euros. Starting from December 24, for nine days, we will present the procedure, advantages of electronic application and hand out promotional materials to all interested representatives of local authorities, poducers and seasonal workers - says Tisa Čaušević, Head of the Food and Agriculture Unit at NALED.
Agro Info Caravan will visit Zrenjanin (24.12.), Niš (25.12.), Čačak and Kraljevo (28.12.), Subotica and Bačka Topola (29.12.), Inđija and Sremska Mitrovica (05.01.), Svilajnac and Jagodina (11.01.), Zaječar and Negotin (13.01.) and Sombor, Vrbas and Odžaci (15.01.) and Žabalj and Grocka (18.01.). The presentations will be held outdoors, in line with the epidemiological measures. Information on the exact date and location of visits can be obtained from the local government.
Until 2019, hiring seasonal workers in agriculture required a complex procedure from the employer, as they had to set aside five hours a month to hire one seasonal worker. This led to even 95% of seasonal workers in agriculture working in the shadow zone, annually. Today, via a web portal www.sezonskiradnici.gov.rs and the first mobile application for public administration services, agricultural producers can register seasonal workers in only 5 minutes – and the option is not only inteded for companies but also owners of agricultural holdings (individual) who can register their workers
In addition to employers, the new system provided plenty of benefits for seasonal workers as well,
The initiative to simplify this process was launched by a group of agricultural companies from Srem, together with the National Alliance for Local Economic Development in 2015. After exchanging experiences with the countries in the region, the initial concept of the reform was developed, which was implemented in cooperation with the Government of Serbia and with the support of the German Development Cooperation.
Many years of efforts have resulted in the Law on Simplified Work Engagement in Seasonal Jobs in Certain Activities, which was adopted in June 2018. This created conditions for the development of an electronic system for registering seasonal workers, which began operating in January next year.
