Global Compliance – Serbia
Serbia: Implementation of eSick Leave Notification System
In Serbia, employees receive paid sick leave for up to 30 days if they are temporarily incapacitated. They are entitled to 65% of their average salary from the previous 12 months if the incapacity is due to non-work-related illness or injury, and 100% if it is due to a work-related injury or occupational disease.
Effective March 2025, employees will no longer have to manually provide sick leave certificates to their employers. Instead, an electronic system will automatically send the confirmation of temporary work incapacity to the employer, eliminating the need for any further notification by the employee.
Currently in Serbia, employees must provide their employer with a doctor-issued certificate confirming temporary incapacity for work. This certificate should detail the expected duration of absence and must be submitted within three days from the start of the incapacity.
Upcoming Amendment
Effective March 2025, employers will directly receive sick leave certificates from the healthcare institutions. When a doctor determines that sick leave is necessary and enters it into the system, the information is automatically sent to the employer. Doctors will specify the expected duration of the sick leave, and if a follow-up examination is required, it will be noted. Employers will only receive information about the start and duration of the sick leave, without access to the patient’s medical details. This system eliminates the need for employees to submit certificates, ensures immediate communication with employers, and provides medical institutions with a centralized record of sick leave history.
Take away – Employers need to revise and align their internal policies to comply with the legal requirements for implementing the eSick Leave System. to ensure timely communication, protect employee privacy, and maintain a centralized record for medical institutions.
