Some legal dilemmas regarding the moratorium on employment in the public sector

In 2013, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia passed amendments to the Budget System Law prescribing the measure of the moratorium on employment in public services. The implementation of this measure was directed towards controlling (i.e. cutting) expenses and reducing the number of employees in the organizations financed from the government budget. Despite the analysis of the measure under scrutiny pointing out a lack of systematic, argumented and reliable reports and objective analyses of both positive and negative consequences of this decision, it appears that its application was associated with more negative consequences than positive ones whilst the largest and most significant effects were suffered by the sectors of healthcare, social protection and education. In addition, the negative consequences of the measure had a direct impact on women and young members of the workforce. The extension of this measure, in several iterations, has manifested itself through significant obstacles in the provision of services as well as a reduction in the quality of these services. Therefore, it is worthwhile to examine the content and the consequences of the application of the measure of the moratorium on public employment, certain legal dilemmas in relation to it, as well as whether the autonomy of public services has been restored following its repeal.