More Than 150 Reports of Exploitation of Foreign Workers in Serbia in 2025: How Well Are Their Rights Protected?

They learn the Serbian language on the go, their labor rights often remain unclear to them, and alongside cultural differences, questions arise about their position in the labor market.

What conditions do they work in, how well are they protected, and how visible are they to institutions? And how prepared is the system to respond to these challenges?

During the past year, Serbia recorded the highest number of suspected cases of exploitation of foreign nationals - 155 reports.

In most cases, this involves labor exploitation. Sexual exploitation accounts for 14 percent of reported cases.

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Marijana Savic from the "Atina" Association told Newsmax Balkans that in most cases, the victims managed to escape on their own and sought help from the police or neighbors, with citizens often providing assistance.

"We have very active citizens. A lot also comes through the exchange of information between different police forces and ministries in the region, as well as through active investigations conducted by our authorities", Savic pointed out.

"Lack of a Clear Definition of Exploitation"

Prosecutor Tamara Mirovic agreed that the situation could be improved. One of the key problems is the unclear line between violations of labor rights and forced labor, which leaves many victims outside the protection system.

"The absence of a clear definition of exploitation makes it difficult to distinguish between labor rights violations and exploitation that amounts to forced labor, and this is one of the greatest challenges in the practice of public prosecutors", she emphasized.

People who are coming in Serbia are often exhausted, without documents and basic support, which makes them easy targets for abuse.

For this very reason, the issue of integration emerges as crucial. Without access to rights, information, and support, the risk of exploitation does not disappear - it deepens.

"We Must Have a Strategy"

Experts point to the need for a comprehensive national strategy that would enable more effective protection and social inclusion.

Printscreen: Newsmax BalkansMarijana Savic

Savic noted that Serbia faces a labor shortage, but that it is not enough to simply state the need for workers across sectors such as construction, infrastructure projects, and hospitality.

"We must have a strategy for how these people will live here, how we will protect their rights, how they will be informed, and how we will communicate this with the community in which we live. That is crucial", she said.

She added that if this is not addressed, but instead ignored, nothing will be achieved.

"That way, we will only create new problems", Savic concluded.

During 2024 alone, nearly 80,000 work visas were issued. Most workers come from countries such as China, Russia, Turkey, and India, and are primarily employed in construction, hospitality, and industry.

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