Montenegro Strengthens Opportunities for Women’s Participation and Economic Empowerment in the Labour Market

The Head of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue participated in the regional panel “From Evidence to Action: Advancing Gender-Responsive Labour Mobility and Migration Governance in the Western Balkans,” held in Sarajevo as part of the “Women on the Move” event, organized by UN Women and the IOM. The panel brought together representatives of Western Balkan countries, the European Union and international organizations to exchange experiences on the situation of women in migration, their participation in the labour market and economic empowerment, as well as protection from discrimination, harassment, violence and labour exploitation. In this process, the preparations of Montenegro’s Employment Agency to join EURES—the European network of employment services—are particularly important. EURES connects jobseekers, employers and employment services and provides access to information on employment opportunities and living and working conditions across Europe. This process is directly linked to reforms under Chapter 19—Social Policy and Employment—which covers key issues including the quality of employment, labour rights, equal opportunities, social protection and social dialogue. Cooperation with the UN system and other international partners provides important support for the reform process, contributing to the development of better policies and stronger institutional capacities in the areas of gender equality, labour migration, women’s economic empowerment, and the prevention of discrimination and labour exploitation. It was concluded that labour mobility must be accompanied by decent work, social security and effective protection of rights so that changes in the labour market bring women more opportunities, greater economic security and professional development, rather than new risks and vulnerability.