Democratic Union of Roma: Roma Unemployment in Serbia Result of Neglect, Lack of Clear Employment Policy

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President of the Democratic Union of Roma Salih Saitovic said on March 3 that unemployment in the Roma community in Serbia was not the result of a lack of will to work, but rather a consequence of long-time systemic neglect and absence of a clear employment policy, stressing that thousands of Roma today were without a full-time job. 

"Young people graduate from high school, even university, but are after that left without a real opportunity to get a job in their respective profession. Many Roma citizens are forced to work illegally - without a contract, without social and health insurance, without any security for themselves or their families. This situation produces a vicious cycle of poverty, social insecurity and exclusion. Without stable employment there is no economic independence, and without economic independence there is no full equality in society," a statement from the Union quoted Saitovic as saying.

The Democratic Union of Roma demands that the authorities introduce mandatory quotas for Roma employment in the public sector and tax and financial incentives for private companies that employ Roma.

They are also calling for the forming of a special fund for the development of Roma entrepreneurship and startup programs, so that young people can get a real chance of starting their own business, as well as systemic control of implementation of these measures and public reporting on the results.