2016年-世界发展银行全球_Womens_Access_to_Economic_Opportunities_in_Serbia_76页_4mb

Summary of Women's Access to Economic Opportunities in Serbia

Core Content

This report analyzes the current state of women's access to economic opportunities in Serbia, focusing on education, health care, and labor market participation. It highlights persistent gender gaps and identifies institutional and policy challenges that hinder women's economic empowerment.

Main Findings

Gender Gaps in Education, Health Care, and Labor Market

• Education:

  • There are no significant gender disparities in educational participation.
  • Women and men in Serbia show similar levels of educational attainment on average.
  • Women in the prime age group (25-54) have better educational characteristics than men of the same age, while older women (55-64) face greater educational gaps.
  • Educational attainment is lower among women in rural areas compared to urban areas.
  • Roma women have significantly lower educational attainment than non-Roma women, with only 30% expected to complete postsecondary education.
  • The gender gap in education is similar in size among the poor and the bottom 40% of the income distribution compared to the general population.

• Health:

  • Women report poorer health than men.
  • Access to medical services is almost equal between genders, but women face more obstacles in affordability.
  • The poor and the bottom 40% face greater health concerns, but gender differences are not more pronounced than in the general population.
  • Serbia's Gender Equality Index shows the smallest gaps in health compared to other domains, but still ranks among the lowest in the EU.

• Labor Market:

  • Women's employment rates are significantly lower than men's due to higher economic inactivity.
  • Women with low educational attainment and in the 55-64 age group are more likely to be economically inactive.
  • Women are more likely to be in permanent wage employment in industry and services, but many are in agriculture as unpaid family members, thus part of the informal labor market.
  • Women are concentrated in the social sector (education, health, social protection), and their working life is five years shorter than men's.
  • Serbia scores poorly in the Gender Equality Index in the domain of work, with gaps in participation, segregation, and quality of work.

Institutional and Policy Context

• Legal and Regulatory Framework:

  • Serbia has a legal framework promoting gender equality, but enforcement remains weak.
  • A new Coordinating Body for Gender Equality was established in 2014, with a central role in promoting gender equality at the national level.
  • A new National Strategy for Gender Equality (2016-2020) and accompanying Activity Plan (2016-2018) have been adopted.
  • A new law on equality between women and men is being drafted.

• Gender-Responsive Budgeting:

  • The Budget System Law now requires gender-responsive budgeting for all local, provincial, and national budgeting authorities.

Policy Challenges

• Tax and Social Protection Systems:

  • High minimum social security contribution (SSC) base and design of monetary social assistance discourage part-time work, especially among low-income individuals and women.
  • Tax policies are not incentivizing formal part-time employment, which is a key factor in women's labor market participation.

• Childcare and Work-Life Balance:

  • Childcare services are insufficient, limiting women's ability to balance family and work responsibilities.
  • The Gender Equality Index highlights a significant gap in time use, with women disproportionately responsible for care activities and less participation in social activities.

• Active Labor Market Policies (ALMPs):

  • Women use the National Employment Service (NES) more frequently than men.
  • More women participate in ALMPs, but more research is needed to identify the most effective programs for women's employment.

Recommendations

• Strengthen Institutional Capacity:

  • Enhance coordination between gender equality institutions to ensure full enforcement of gender-equalizing legislation.

• Improve Tax and Benefit Policies:

  • Reduce the minimum SSC base and adjust social assistance benefit design to encourage part-time employment.

• Expand Childcare Facilities:

  • Increase the number of preschool institutions to support working mothers and expand income-earning opportunities for inactive or unemployed women.

• Promote Part-Time Work:

  • Consider policies to expand the availability of part-time work, which can help increase women's participation in the labor market.

• Boost Economic Growth:

  • Address labor market constraints while promoting economic growth and job creation to reduce unemployment and support women's economic opportunities.

Conclusion

Despite progress in building institutional frameworks for gender equality, women in Serbia still face significant barriers to economic opportunities. Improving access to education, healthcare, and the labor market, along with reforming tax and social protection policies, is essential to enhance women's participation and create a more productive and inclusive economy.