VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBW #0039/01 0131339
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131339Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0869
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0003

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