Access to social protection by immigrants, emigrants and resident nationals in Serbia

Abstract

Turbulent political events of the 1990s marked by the Yugoslav wars, protracted transition from socialism to capitalism, and unstable economic outlook since 2000, have contributed to the preservation of a Serbian welfare system focused on ‘old social risks’, also marked by an exclusionary social protection model that limits access to some benefits to migrants – both foreigners in Serbia and Serbians abroad. Access to most social protection benefits for foreigners residing and working in Serbia depends on the same criteria and requirements as those applied for resident nationals. As the Serbian welfare regime is based on the social insurance model, the entitlement for most social benefits in cash or in kind is based on the employment period and/or payment of compulsory social insurance contributions. However, foreigners remain excluded from accessing non-contributory benefits such as the parental benefits, child allowances or the guaranteed minimum resource scheme. Non-resident nationals have access to social benefits depending on whether the country they reside in has signed social security agreements with Serbia, but range of benefits varies depending on the country.