NALED is forming a Council for small businesses in 2025 – with a focus on empowering women entrepreneurs
Small businesses in Serbia face numerous challenges – from complex administrative procedures and limited access to financing, to a lack of support for digital transformation. These issues hinder their growth and reduce their competitiveness in the market. To overcome these challenges, NALED will establish a Council for small businesses at the beginning of the year, with the support of the British Embassy, aimed at improving the business climate for entrepreneurs.
- We advocate for the introduction of consolidated tax and contribution payments to one account, instead of four payment accounts, enabling flat-rate taxpayers who exceed the six million limit to opt for the personal salary payment regime via the Tax Administration application, equalizing the revenue threshold that a flat-rate taxpayer can achieve while remaining in the flat-rate tax regime with the threshold for entering the VAT system. There are many other initiatives we want to focus on by establishing the Council – emphasizes Marija Suzić, advisor for innovation and entrepreneurship at NALED.
She explains that supporting entrepreneurship is one of NALED's strategic priorities, as a public-private association that brings together nearly 380 companies, local governments, and non-governmental organizations. Together with members from the civil sector and local associations, NALED represents an additional 22,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses in Serbia.
The Council will focus on networking, advocacy, and initiating reform initiatives. Special emphasis will be placed on empowering women in business and female entrepreneurs, who still face numerous obstacles in their work. One of the long-standing demands is the equalization of the position of entrepreneurial mothers with the rights enjoyed by other employed mothers.
- We support amendments to the Health Insurance Law so that female entrepreneurs can continue their business during maternity and parental leave by appointing a business manager while receiving full salary compensation. Additionally, it is necessary to ensure that their work experience is not interrupted during this leave by contributing to their pension from the budget, and that they receive at least the minimum wage during maternity leave, just like employed mothers, through amendments to the Law on financial support for families with children – explains Suzić.
In addition to female entrepreneurs, the Council will also support the work of female mayors and women in leadership positions in local governments across Serbia. They face limited influence on the creation of economic policies due to limited resources and access to regional and international networks and best practices, which reduces the diversity of perspectives essential for the development of local communities. This is evidenced by the fact that out of 174 local governments, only 20 are led by women.
Finally, Suzić calls on all interested parties to join and support the establishment of the Council for small businesses.
The Council for small businesses will be formed within the small and powerful project implemented by NALED with the support of the British Embassy. The main goal of the project is to create sustainable impact by providing resources and support for the development of small businesses, empowering women, and building a more inclusive economy.
