UNECE-Childcare,Women_sEmploymentandCovid-19Impacts-Serbia_34页_2mb

Summary: Childcare, Women's Employment and the Impacts of COVID-19 in Serbia

Core Content

This report examines the interplay between childcare provision, women's employment and the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia, highlighting the structural challenges and opportunities for policy reform. It is a joint effort by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and UN Women under the UNECA Development Account project, focusing on the gender lens in care policies.

Main Viewpoints

1. Childcare Provision in Serbia

• System Overview: Serbia has an integrated system for children from 6 months to 6.5 years, including nurseries, kindergartens and a compulsory preparatory preschool programme.
• Coverage Rates:
  • 26% in nurseries (6 months to 3 years)
  • 63% in kindergartens (3 to 5 years)
  • 97% in the compulsory preparatory preschool programme (5.5 to 6.5 years)
• Disparities:
  • Coverage is significantly lower for children from vulnerable groups, including Roma.
  • Urban areas have an insufficient supply of affordable childcare, while rural areas have very limited or no access.
• Informal Care:
  • 41% of women with children aged 0 to 14 rely on informal care.
  • 6% use formal care, with 35% using a mix.
  • Informal care is more common for very young children, reflecting deep-rooted gender norms and limited formal options.
• Funding Model:
  • Public funding is the main source, provided through local governments and municipalities.
  • The central government funds the compulsory preparatory preschool programme.
  • Funding is uneven, with underdeveloped municipalities having lower coverage rates.
  • The Belgrade region accounts for more than two-thirds of preschool enrolments, highlighting regional imbalances.

2. Women's Employment in Serbia

• Labour Force Participation:
  • Female employment rate in 2019 was 58.2%, compared to 72.1% for men.
  • The gender gap in participation is around 14 percentage points.
• Inactivity Rates:
  • In 2020, women's inactivity rate was 53.5%, compared to 38.1% for men.
  • This gap is more pronounced in rural areas.
• Unemployment:
  • Youth unemployment is a major issue, with the rate for 15–24-year-olds at 29.5% for women and 22.2% for men.
  • Unemployment is more than 3.5 times higher for young women than for young men.
• Gender Pay Gap:
  • The gender pay gap in Serbia is around 11%.
  • Women need to work an additional 40 days per year to earn the same as men.
• Unpaid Care Work:
  • 7% of inactive women cite childcare as the main reason for inactivity, compared to 0% of inactive men.
  • 96% of part-time workers citing care responsibilities are women.
  • Unpaid care work is valued at EUR 9.2 billion, or 21.5% of Serbia's GDP, with women contributing 14.9% and men 6.6%.

3. Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Employment and Work Hours:
  • Women were disproportionately affected, with higher rates of job loss and reduced working hours.
  • Women are overrepresented in sectors with high labour-related vulnerabilities (e.g., retail, hospitality).
• Care Burden:
  • The closure of schools and kindergartens increased care burdens on women.
  • Women lost access to informal care networks (e.g., elderly family members).
• Household Income:
  • Over 30% of households reported income reductions.
  • 25% of households faced unplanned expenses, with some exceeding 25% of monthly income.
• Structural Inequalities:
  • Pre-existing gender inequalities were exacerbated by the pandemic.
  • The need for more flexible childcare and work-life balance policies became more evident.

4. Socioeconomic Response and Recovery Measures

• Government Actions:
  • Serbia introduced several gender-responsive measures, including:
    • A universal one-off cash payment.
    • Temporary extension of social assistance benefits.
    • Increased salaries for health and care sector workers.
    • Support for micro-enterprises, entrepreneurs and the self-employed.
• Gaps in Implementation:
  • Despite the decree allowing parents of young children to work from home, there was no adequate legal or financial framework.
  • No targeted support was introduced for working parents affected by childcare service closures.
• Policy Recommendations:
  • Shift childcare funding from municipalities to the central government to ensure broader coverage.
  • Improve the affordability, quality and accessibility of formal childcare services.
  • Promote flexible working arrangements and work-life balance policies.
  • Address the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women.

Key Information

• Population: Around 7 million, with a declining trend due to emigration and a negative natural birth rate of -5.4.
• Ageing Demographics: A major challenge for the economy, necessitating improved formal care options.
• Gender Equality Index: Serbia scored 55.8 out of 100 in 2018, placing it 22nd in the region, and 10.4 points behind the EU average.
• Socioeconomic Indicators (2019):
  • Activity rate: 68.1% (women 61.3%, men 74.9%)
  • Employment rate: 58.2% (women) vs. 72.1% (men)
  • Unemployment rate: 11.2% (women) vs. 10.0% (men)
  • Real GDP per capita: EUR 5,450 (vs. EUR 27,970 in the EU)
  • At risk of poverty before transfers: 28.3% (vs. 24.4% in the EU)
  • Public expenditure as % of GDP: 42.3% (vs. 46.6% in the EU)

Conclusion

The report emphasizes the critical role of childcare in enabling women to participate in the formal economy and the need for systemic reform to address gender disparities. It underscores the importance of investing in formal childcare, improving the gender pay gap, and enhancing work-life balance policies to support women, especially in the context of the pandemic. Serbia is at a pivotal moment to reorient its care policies to align with global gender equality goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.