Serbia's high fixed‑term employment rate and new aid for low‑pension retirees

Eurostat data for 2025 shows that 14.5 % of employees in Serbia work under fixed‑term contracts, far above the European Union average of 9.9 %. Only North Macedonia (15.4 %) and the Netherlands (18.4 %) have higher shares. Fixed‑term work is common in seasonal sectors such as hospitality, construction, agriculture and also in the public sector, where a 2013 rule restricting permanent hiring forces authorities to renew temporary contracts repeatedly.

Serbian officials report that the average pension is 56 851 dinars, yet around 900 000 retirees receive less than this amount, with more than 750 000 earning under 45 000 dinars. President Aleksandar Vučić announced a “protective supplement” targeted at the lowest‑pension earners, a measure that departs from the existing pension system but aims to lift the most vulnerable retirees.

These developments highlight labour‑market insecurity and a new social‑policy response aimed at protecting a large segment of Serbia’s population.