The part of the Report relating to the activities of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs was presented by State Secretary at the Ministry Aleksandar Stojanovic. Following a long debate with the Committee members and MPs, the Committee decided to submit a Report to the National Assembly accompanied by a Conclusion Proposal stating that the Committee accepted the Report of the Government of the Republic of Serbia on the natural disaster – flood suffered by the Republic of Serbia and measures employed to save the population and defend the threatened areas from the flood, with the proposal that the National Assembly discuss it by urgent procedure.

The Committee members went on to discuss in principle the Bill amending and modifying the Labour Law, submitted by the Government. State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Aleksandar Stojanovic presented the proposed amendments and modifications to the Law. Creating a positive working environment, boosting labour productivity, overcoming the economic crisis and boosting employment, as well as the need for harmonisation with the European legislation were listed as the chief goals the Bill sets out to achieve, said Stojanovic. In the course of the discussion the Committee members and MPs voiced their own views and opinions on the Bill, asking for additional explanations for some of the proposed provisions. The Committee then accepted the Bill amending and modifying the Labour Law, in principle.

The Committee members also discussed, in principle, the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance, submitted by the Government. The Bill was elaborated by Assistant Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Zoran Milosevic. The most important amendments concern the raising of the retirement age for women to 56 years of age, introduction of penalties for everyone who retires before 56 years of age and amendments related to reduced service years for retirement, said the Assistant Minister. Following the discussion, the Committee accepted the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance, in principle.

The Committee members also discussed and accepted the Bill on the Confirmation of the Social Security Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Hungary, submitted by the Government, and elaborated by Assistant Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Zoran Milosevic.

The Committee then proceeded to deliberate on the civic petitions it had received and, at the proposal of the Working Group for petitions, ascertained how they should be processed further.

The sitting was chaired by Dr Vesna Rakonjac, Committee Chairperson.