Social Democrats Propose Measures To Address Economic Crisis

Boris Tadic (Beta/Milan Obradovic)

The Social Democratic Party on March 31 demanded an urgent set of economic relief measures for businesses and citizens directly affected by disruptions in the economic activity, reduced foreign trade, current loss of markets, and the Serbian government decisions.

“Declaration of the state of emergency, border shutdowns and restricted movement have resulted in halts in certain sectors of the economy, such as hotel and catering industries and various types of services. In parallel, a drop in demand has affected almost all sectors of the economy but commodity sales which has (probably) been reporting only a short-term increase,” according to the party.

According to the party, Serbia is running late with the adoption and implementation of the necessary economic measures, while those adopted so far are insufficient to address the prospect impacts on the economy, and therefore, relief measures for the most vulnerable should be presented as soon as possible.

“It is necessary to separate relief measures intended for business entities from those directed at their very employees, which definitely will have impact on those particular business entities. Further, social and health relief measures should particularly support all other citizens. This primarily includes the right to free healthcare during the crisis and aid to the most impoverished groups,” according to the party.