What comes to mind when you think of Serbia? For many, it’s the fact that the country is home to tennis legend Novak Djokovic. But there is much, much more to Serbia (sorry, Djoker).
From the historic fortress in Belgrade to the majestic blue Danube River, Serbia is a Central European country rich in cultural heritage, embracing a modern future.
The Serbian government is aggressively investing in technology education and development. The country is gaining a reputation as a hub for tech talent — with a growing workforce eager for global remote work opportunities.
Key takeaways:
- The Serbian government’s investment in technology sets the country apart as an emerging European leader for remote jobs.
- Serbian laws dictate various aspects of employment, including contracts, overtime, and paid leave.
- Serbia offers two different visa options for digital nomads.
Advantages of Hiring in Serbia
Many people in Serbia speak English (it’s ranked #24 out of 113 countries on the English Proficiency Index). Quite a few Serbians are multilingual, speaking not only English and Serbian but also French, German, Spanish, or other languages.
In addition, high-quality internet with speeds of over 100 Mbps has been available to all Serbian citizens since the end of 2023.
Here’s a quick overview of Serbia:
- Language: Serbian
- Currency: Serbian Dinar (RSD)
- Capital City: Belgrade
- Population: 6.7 Million
- Cost of Living Rank: 100th
Deep Investment in Technology Makes Hiring Serbians an Ideal Choice
The Serbian government heavily invests in technology education, starting with mandatory software programming classes in elementary schools.
The country is also investing over EUR 70 million in technical infrastructure to nurture start-ups and technology companies.
One of Serbia’s fastest-growing sectors is the gaming industry. The government is also focusing on nurturing initiatives to boost demand for cybersecurity capabilities and solutions.
Common remote job sectors in Serbia include:
- IT Services and Tech Support
- Software Engineer
- Frontend Devops
- Programming
- Call Center Customer Support
- Blockchain Development
Other common job titles for Serbian remote workers include marketing manager, product manager, backend engineer, and data analyst.
Employment Laws: Hiring Compliantly in Serbia
Employment Contracts
Serbian labor laws govern employment contracts. The two main types are:
- Fixed-term contracts: Maximum duration of 24 months
- Indefinite contracts: Open-ended and intended for ongoing employment
As part of the hiring process, employers must provide employees with a written employment contract that covers wages, hours worked, paid leave, and more.
Working Hours & Pay
The standard work week for full-time employees is eight hours per day, 40 hours per week. Overtime cannot exceed 12 hours in a single day, and overtime pay must be at least 26% more than regular wages.
As of 2024, the minimum hourly wage is RSD 271, and the minimum monthly salary is RSD 47,154, or an average of €401 per month.
Probation Periods
In Serbia, probationary periods depend on the contract, but they can’t exceed six months.
Employer Taxes
Serbian employers must contribute 10% of an employee’s gross salary to the Pension and Disability Insurance fund and 5.15% to Health Insurance.
Termination Process & Severance Pay
Employees can be terminated for resignation, misconduct, or other employment-related offenses. Notice periods are spelled out in the employment contract and are usually between 15-30 days.
Employees terminated due to redundancy are entitled to severance pay. The amount is the equivalent of at least one-third of the employee’s monthly income for each year of service.
Paid Leave Laws in Serbia
Vacation and Holiday
In Serbia, employees are entitled to 20 paid vacation days per year.
Paid national public holidays include:
- New Year’s Holiday
- Orthodox Christmas
- Sovereignty Day
- Orthodox Easter Monday
- Labor Day
- Armistice Day
Sick Leave
The amount of annual sick leave in Serbia depends on the employer, but generally, employees are eligible for up to 30 days of paid leave, paid at 65% of their salary. After 30 days, compensation for time off varies.
Maternity Leave
Serbian employees receive twelve months of fully paid maternity leave for their first and second children. Pregnant employees are required to begin their leave at least 28 days before their due date.
The employer pays the first 30 days of leave; a national fund pays the remainder. Employees can take up to two years of fully paid leave after the births of their third and fourth children.
Paternity Leave
Serbian dads are entitled to five days of paid leave after the birth of a child. If a mother is unemployed, dies, becomes incapacitated, or leaves the child, the father is eligible for the same amount of leave as the mother (up to a year).
Why Digital Nomads Love Serbia
Serbia has two types of visas applicable for digital nomads: one for short stays (up to 90 days) and one for stays of up to 180 days, known as the Type-D visa.
Serbia is an appealing choice for expats and digital nomads due to its low cost of living, strong internet connections, and convenient location in central Europe — which can serve as a home base for Western and Eastern European trips.
Most nomads prefer the bustling capital Belgrade or the charming riverside city of Novi Sad. Still, salaries will go even further on rent and other necessities outside these main areas. Serbia is an ideal hub from which to explore global employment.
How to Pay Remote Workers in Serbia
There are several ways to pay workers living in Serbia.
- Bank wires: Well-known and secure, this method involves depositing funds directly into employee bank accounts. On the other hand, fees are often involved, and international transactions typically take longer to process.
- Payment platforms: Wise and PayPal are some of the platforms that can streamline payments to international employees. However, these platforms aren’t available in every country/currency.
- Cryptocurrency: While not common, cryptocurrency is another option to pay remote workers, but there can be significant price volatility and may result in complicated tax implications for the employee.
One way to simplify paying Serbian employees is to work with an Employer of Record (EOR).
Hire in Serbia with RemoFirst
Companies partner with EORs to employ people in countries where they don’t have a physical entity. The EOR acts as the legal employer, simplifying international employment by handling onboarding and offboarding, payroll, taxes, and compliance with local laws.
Ready to hire in Serbia or anywhere in the world? Book a demo with RemoFirst to learn how we can handle payroll, legal compliance, and more for Serbian workers on your global team.
