Representatives of Montenegro’s tourism industry believe that the country should simplify the process of hiring foreign workers, following the example of Croatia, as a stable and predictable tourist season is not possible without them. On February 12, the Montenegrin government approved a draft law on permanent seasonal work, which for the first time systematically regulates the status of so-called permanent seasonal workers in tourism, hospitality, trade, construction, and agriculture.
The law requires employers to register seasonal workers for pension and health insurance even outside the season, with an obligation to offer employment the following year. However, these measures apply exclusively to Montenegrin citizens, while the hiring of foreign seasonal workers remains outside the scope of the proposed legislation.
According to Jutarnji list, industry representatives warn that without simplified and accelerated procedures for employing foreign workers, it is impossible to ensure the smooth operation of the tourist season. Each year, Montenegro employs between 19,000 and 20,000 seasonal workers, a significant portion of whom come from abroad.
Croatian Model as an Example
The Croatian model is cited as an efficient solution, where foreign workers make up nearly half of the seasonal workforce in tourism. The procedure for issuing residence and work permits is largely digitalized and does not require workers to be physically present in the country during the process.
The system operates electronically, connecting the registers of relevant institutions, including employment offices, police, pension and health insurance, and the tax administration. This allows automatic data exchange and significantly faster processing times.
Montenegro’s tourism representatives argue that establishing a single digital platform for registering seasonal workers could improve preparation for the tourist season and allow for more effective responses to actual labor market needs.
Source: nin.rs