The Law on Safety and Health at Work: Key Changes and Obligations of Employers
14.05.2025.
The Republic of Serbia has adopted a new Law on Occupational Safety and Health (hereinafter: the Law), which came into force on May 7, 2023. Employers are required to fully harmonize their operations with the new regulations by May 7, 2025, or by January 1, 2026, at the latest.
This law introduces significant changes aimed at improving worker protection and aligning with European standards. Non-compliance may lead to serious consequences, including substantial financial penalties.
Key Innovations of the Law
- Introduction of Safety and Health Advisors and Associates
To carry out occupational safety and health tasks, the employer is required to engage one or more individuals under an employment contract who meet specific conditions in accordance with the Law.
In certain activities [1], an employer with up to 20 employees may perform occupational safety and health tasks themselves, provided they pass a professional exam prescribed by the Minister responsible for labor. In such cases, no license is required.
Safety and Health Advisor – Employers in specific sectors [2] must appoint an occupational safety and health advisor. This person must have at least a university-level education amounting to a minimum of 240 ECTS credits in academic or vocational studies in the fields of technical-technological sciences or natural-mathematical sciences, in the areas of biological sciences, environmental protection, physical sciences, physic-chemical and chemical sciences (or in the case of healthcare and social protection sectors, a university-level education in medical sciences).
Safety and Health Associate – Employers in all other sectors are required to appoint a safety and health associate, i.e., a person with a minimum of 180 ECTS credits in higher education in the fields of technical-technological sciences, natural-mathematical sciences, medical sciences, or social-humanistic sciences.
- Mandatory Risk Assessment and Preventive Measures
The Law requires employers to perform a risk assessment at all workplaces and to implement appropriate preventive measures. All employers in Serbia must have a Risk Assessment Act [3]—regardless of the number of employees or the type of activity. The risk assessment must be carried out by a qualified professional.
Additionally, there is now a requirement to keep records of workplace injuries in an electronic register. This register is established and maintained by the relevant administration for statistical purposes, with data input by the employer, designated physician, and other competent authorities.
- Remote and Work-from-Home Regulations
For the first time, remote work and work-from-home arrangements are regulated. Employers must ensure occupational safety and health in collaboration with employees. They must:
- Determine safe working conditions,
- Provide work equipment,
- Define the work process,
- Prescribe preventive measures for a safe and healthy work environment.
Employers may issue a risk assessment for remote work in written form with employee participation. Employees must inform the employer about the fulfillment of safe working conditions and notify them promptly of any subsequent changes.
- Mandatory Medical Examinations
Employers are obligated to provide medical checkups for employees based on workplace risks, at the employer’s expense. For high-risk positions or night shifts, employers must provide pre-employment and periodic medical exams during employment.
Upon request, the employer must also refer an employee for a medical exam appropriate to the workplace risk at regular intervals, but no later than five years after the previous checkup.
- Work Injury and Occupational Disease Insurance
While employee insurance is not a new obligation, the Law now explicitly states that employers must insure employees against work injuries and occupational diseases for compensation. The employer fully bears the cost of insurance, and the type and scope of insurance must correspond to the risk assessment for the specific work environment
- Stricter Penalties for Non-Compliance
The Law introduces stricter penalties, with fines that may exceed one million dinars for legal entities. For example:
- Employers can be fined 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 dinars for failing to insure employees against work injuries and occupational diseases.
- A fine of 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 dinars applies if the employer fails to produce a written risk assessment act for all workplaces and does not define the methods, measures, and deadlines for eliminating or minimizing risks.
Fines are also foreseen for directors or other responsible persons within the company.
Conclusion
The new Law on Occupational Safety and Health marks a major step toward improving working conditions and employee protection in Serbia. Employers should take all necessary steps to align their operations with the new legal requirements and avoid potential penalties.
[1] Retail trade, accommodation and food services, information and communication, financial and insurance activities, real estate, professional, scientific, innovation, administrative and support services, mandatory social insurance, education, arts, entertainment and recreation, and other service activities.
[2] Construction, agriculture, forestry and fishing, mining, manufacturing, electricity/gas/steam/air conditioning supply (excluding electricity and gas trading via pipeline networks), water supply, wastewater management, waste removal, wholesale trade, transport and storage, and similar activities, as well as health and social protection.
[3] Employers must adopt or align their Risk Assessment Acts with the new amendments by January 1, 2026, at the latest.
