Belgrade, Feb. 21, 2002 - A contract was signed in Belgrade today between
the Republic Labor Market Bureau and the Agency for the Development
of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, aiming to encourage entrepreneurship
and boost employment.
The contract on collaboration in training and stimulating employment
in the small business sector was signed today by Labor Market Bureau
director Svetozar Krstic and Agency director Nenad Penezic.
"The government's plan for 2002 includes material support to setting
up 2000 small enterprises and shops," Krstic told a news conference.
"Of that number, we will provide training to 1500 prospective entrepreneurs
for their future work."
"The four-month course will include training in management, finance,
book-keeping, the essentials of marketing, and computers. An English
language course has also been planned. Future entrepreneurs will be
given state credit references for the Fund for Development, commercial
banks and foreign creditors," Krstic said.
One of the priorities set by the Serbian government for 2002 is the
development of small and medium-sized enterprises, since the experience
of other countries in transition has shown that this sector constitutes
the most powerful engine of economic development.
Within the framework of business cooperation between the Labor Market
Bureau and the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprises, special emphasis will be placed on promoting flexible employment
opportunities such as part-time jobs and family-friendly employment
- a new feature of the recently adopted Labor Act.
Penezic said that the novelty consisted in providing a legal framework
and contracts for these kinds of jobs, ensuring all legal rights to
the employee.
|