SERBIA: CHILD LABOR INFORMATION FOR TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT

UNCLAS BELGRADE 000039

SIPDIS
DOL/ILAB FOR TINA MCCARTER
DRL/IL FOR TU DANG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PHUM SOCI SR MW
SUBJECT: SERBIA: CHILD LABOR INFORMATION FOR TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
ACT (GSP) 2008 REPORT

REF: 08 State 127448

SUMMARY
--------------


1. Reftel requested post input for Serbia, as a recipient of trade
benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program,
on efforts to combat child labor. Serbia is upholding its
international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child
labor. END SUMMARY.

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR
--------------


2. Children in the Republic of Serbia can be found working in rural
areas, on family farms or in other family businesses. Children also
work in the informal sector, selling small items or washing car
windows. Children from poor, rural communities, Romani children,
and children living with foster families are at the highest risk for
entering exploitive child labor, including begging, prostitution,
dealing narcotics, and hard physical labor, according to a study
released in March 2006 by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
and the NGO Children's Rights Center. Internal sex trafficking of
girls has been a problem. Children have also been trafficked for
purposes of forced labor or street begging. The incidence of
trafficking of children for sexual exploitation has reportedly
continued to grow, although this may be attributed to increased
monitoring and an improvement in victim identification. The
Ministry of Labor and Social Policy officially reported no cases of
illegal or forced child labor for 2008. The Ministry would not
provide information on the number of child labor cases investigated.
Although the government would not say how many inspectors are
employed or the nature of their workload, the Ministry did say it
had an adequate number of qualified inspectors, but added that
inspectors needed better working facilities and equipment to perform
their duties. Two labor rights NGOs, Felicitas and the Center for
Democracy, also reported no illegal or forced child labor cases in
Serbia.

CHILD LABOR LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT
--------------


3. The minimum age for employment is 15 years, and youth under the
age of 18 years must have written permission from a parent or
guardian to work. However, it is not clear if the minimum age for
employment applies to self-employed children. Children under 18
years are prohibited from hazardous work or from working under
conditions that might "jeopardize their health, morals and
education," including work that involves strenuous physical
activity; work underground, underwater, or at dangerous heights; and
work with exposure to toxic or carcinogenic substances, extreme
temperatures, noise, or vibrations. Further, children under 18
years are not allowed to work overtime hours or at night, and are
allowed to work no more than 35 hours per week. The law provides
for monetary penalties for violation of these provisions.


4. Procurement of a minor for the purpose of prostitution is
punishable by up to three years imprisonment. Inducement of a minor
into prostitution is punishable by 1 to 10 years imprisonment. The
production or distribution of pornographic materials portraying a
minor is punishable by 1 to 5 years imprisonment; if the minor is
under 14 years old the punishment is a minimum of 3 years
imprisonment. Forced labor is prohibited. Males are eligible for
conscription into the Armed Forces at 18 years, but can be recruited
for voluntary service in the year of their 17th birthday. The
trafficking of minors involving force or coercion is punishable by
at least five years imprisonment. In 2008, the Government filed 32
criminal charges against 74 persons for trafficking. The Government
has a full-time anti-trafficking unit in the organized crime police
force and a full-time anti-trafficking office in the border police.
A deputy public prosecutor and other officials charged with
complicity in trafficking for prostitution in July 2008 were found
guilty and received sentences ranging from time served to eight
years.

CURRENT GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO ELIMINATE THE WORST
FORMS OF CHILD LABOR
-------------- --------------


5. The Ministry of Labor and Social Issues includes child labor
prevention in its standard protection programs for children and
families. A new department within the Ministry was created in 2007
to address the social problems in the Roma community that lead to
forced labor. The department also focuses on improving education
and health services.


6. The government appointed a new Anti-Trafficking Coordinator to
fill a position that had been vacant for a year. The National

Coordinator submitted an anti-trafficking action plan for 2009 to
implement the National Strategy to combat trafficking in persons.
The Government of Serbia and NGOs continued to raise public
awareness of trafficking by holding conferences, broadcasting public
service announcements, and sponsoring school outreach programs.

COMMENT
--------------


7. Serbia has adequate laws that meet international standards to
discourage child labor. However, the government needs to be more
active and effective in helping the Roma and impoverished children
who are most susceptible to exploitation. Serbia continues to work
with its neighbors to combat trafficking in persons. END COMMENT

MUNTER