Serbia is a landlocked country located in the Balkan Peninsula of southeastern Europe.
Payroll and Benefits Guide - Serbia
Fun Facts
The capital city of Serbia is Belgrade, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe
The Serbian language is written in Cyrillic script, although Latin script is also used.
Serbia is known for its hospitality and the concept of “Sveti Nikola” (St. Nicholas), where people open their homes and hearts to guests.
The national sport of Serbia is Basketball, and the Serbian national basketball team has achieved significant success in international competitions.
Serbia is home to the world’s largest trumpet festival called the Guča Trumpet Festival, where thousands of musicians gather to perform.
Contributions
Employee Payroll Tax
| Contribution Type | Rate |
| Pension and Disability Insurance | 14.00% |
| Health Insurance | 5.15% |
| Unemployment Insurance | 0.75% |
Employer Payroll Tax
| Contribution Type | Rate |
| Pension and Disability Insurance | 10.00% |
| Health Insurance | 5.15% |
| Meal allowance & holiday allowance | Minimum not set |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
In Serbia, the payroll frequency is typically on a monthly basis. The employer must make salary payments at least once a month.
13th Salary
There is no legal requirement for 13-month payments. Employers may issue bonuses at their discretion.
Work Hours and Week
The working week in Serbia is typically 40 hours, eight hours per day, five days a week.
Overtime
All work above the standard working hours per week is to be paid as overtime and is regulated by the employment contract/collective agreements.
Leave
Paid Time Off
Employees are entitled to 20 days of annual paid leave following the completion of one year of service with an employer.
Public Holidays
Holidays that fall on a weekend are moved to the next working day.
Sick Days
Employees are entitled to 30 days of paid sick leave compensated by the employer at 65% of the employee’s standard salary.
Maternity Leave
Employees receive maternity leave that equates to a total of 365 days. Following the birth of a third child, the duration extends to a total of 24 months of leave.
Paternity Leave
The father/partner is entitled to five days of paternity leave after the child’s birth. The employee is only entitled to the paid entitlement in exceptional circumstances.
Parental Leave
A father can share the childcare leave that the mother is entitled to if the mother is unable to care for the baby
Termination
Termination Process
The termination process varies according to the employment agreement and collective agreement in place and is based on the type of contract and reason for termination.
Notice Period
Employers must give an employee eight days notice before the dismissal (five days during probation).
Severance Pay
In Serbia, severance pay is only paid in the case of layoffs. The severance payment is equal to at least 1/3 of the employee’s regular salary for each year of service.
Probation Period
Probation Period
In Serbia, the probation periods may vary depending on the employment contract in place. However, the probation period can be no more than six months.
VISA
VISA
There are several requirements for every type of Serbian visa, but the specifics vary from visa to visa.
However, some of the general requirements include:
- Valid passport and photos
- Letter of invitation from a Serbian-based company
- Application forms
- Application fees
- Proof of medical insurance
- Proof of funds
VAT
The standard rate of VAT in Serbia is 20.00%