Consent for paid leave during an emergency is submitted electronically.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia, on the proposal of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, concluded that decisions to give consent for sending employees on paid leave for more than 45 working days are issued without prior submission of the employers' request for opinion to the representative trade union of the branch or activity established at the level of the Republic, with a validity period until the end of the state of emergency at the latest.

Keeping in mind that many employers will reducing the volume of work during the state of emergency, have the need to send employees on paid leave as soon as possible in accordance with Article 116, paragraph 2 of the Labor Law, the Ministry proposed that the decisions for granting consent for the sending of employees on paid leave for more than 45 working days be issued without first submitting the employers' request for an opinion to the representative union of the branch or activity established at the level of the Republic. request.

The Ministry will deliver the decision to employers, electronically, based on the employer's reasoned request and the necessary documentation submitted electronically, with a validity period no later than the date of termination of the state of emergency.

Employees who are absent from work on this basis are entitled to a minimum wage compensation of 60% of the average wage in the previous 12 months, provided that it cannot be less than the minimum wage. According to the collective agreement or the labor regulations and the labor contract, the salary compensation can be determined on this basis in a higher percentage than the salary compensation prescribed by law.

For sending employees on paid leave for more than 45 working days in accordance with Article 116, paragraph 2 of the Labor Law and Government Decision 05 number 132-2865/2020 of 03.26.2020. year, it is NECESSARY to submit the following documentation to the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs electronically to the email address: kabinet@minrzs.gov.rs, to submit the following documentation:

Scanned Decision of the competent body of the employer signed by an authorized person OR Employer's request signed by a legal representative, on the need to refer of employees on paid leave which should contain:

• Name and headquarters of the employer, social security number and PIB,
• total number of employees at the employer,
• number of employees referred to paid leave,
• brief reasons and circumstances that led to a reduced workload, i.e., a work stoppage and the need to send employees on paid leave for more than 45 working days,
• for which month the last salary was paid,
• the email address to which the Ministry should deliver the scanned Decision to the employer,
• the telephone number of the contact person at the employer responsible for preparing the documentation.

Also, we note that it is not necessary to indicate the number of working days for which employees are sent on paid leave because the Decision on granting consent for sending employees on paid leave for more than 45 working days is issued only for the period while the Decision on declaring a state of emergency is in force.