I’LL CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR

I'll Continue Fighting For GENDER EQUALITY

I’ve had to prove myself throughout my entire career, and I found it much harder going at work than my male colleagues. And almost every woman will understand that, because we know how much effort, work and energy is behind every woman, and that it’s necessary for us to prove ourselves much more in order to succeed. However, for me, tripping up and attempting to humiliate me just because I’m a woman in a “man’s business” provided motivation for me to work even harder and to achieve results that are visible and that no one can dispute - says Zorana Mihajlović, Minister of Mining and Energy, for whom this second area is a “typically male” department.

Prejudices and gender stereotypes are deeply rooted, not only in our society but worldwide, says our interlocutor, because we are taught from an early age which games are for girls and The main task of the Ministry, together with all enterprises operating in the energy sector, is to ensure Serbia is a country with energy stability and that these two sectors contribute as much as possible to GDP growth and the development of Serbia. At the same time, I will continue to fight for women who have proven themselves with their skills, knowledge and innovation to have the opportunity to prove their leadership potential.

which are for boys, which is further carried to so-called “men’s and women’s” jobs. “We often hear boys being told not to cry like a girl or girls being told not to fight for themselves like some tomboy, while men who do housework are under the thumb. Well, let’s be honest by saying that we also contribute ourselves to such concepts,” adds Mihajlović

To what extent are women present in management positions in the industries under your jurisdiction, and how much are those functions reserved for men? - Studies conducted at the global level show that women are insufficiently represented in the top management positions in the energy sector, which represents a loss for these companies and a lack of talent, ideas and innovation.

CHANGES

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Mining and Energy, I found 18% of women in those positions, and I'm certain that we'll change that percentage

WOMEN

When it comes to women in top management positions, EMS is certainly among the world's leading energy companies, with women holding 56% of leading positions

GENDER EQUALITY

While a shift of 1.2 points was recorded at the EU level, Serbia made almost three times as much progress in less than three years

When it comes to ministries and institutions operating in and investment. Just as there are no investments where there are this area, I can state with pride that, while I was in charge of the no roads, so there are no investments without a secure energy Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, of 61% of supply, or when that supply is lacking in quality. In addition to the employed women, 43% were at the first level of decision-making. fact that these are all important preconditions for investments Upon arriving at the Ministry of Mining and Energy, I found 18% generally, great potential also exists to attract new investments of women in those positions, and I’m certain that we’ll change in energy and mining. that percentage, because women have proven - with their skills, In order to ease the enticing of new investments, we plan knowledge and innovation - that they have strong leadership - together with the World Bank - to introduce electronic procepotential. And I will continue to fight for that. dures in energy and mining, following the model of e-permits

When it comes to public companies, at EPS, for example, in the construction sector. The goal of e-Energy and e-Mining women account for 20% of employees and occupy only 13% reforms is to make all procedures in these areas electronic, and of top management positions (supervisory board, director and for us to increase transparency and predictability for investors, executive directors). At the Electricity Network of Serbia (EMS), reduce costs and shorten procedures, whether they relate to women make up 22% of employees and occupy 36% of positions energy permits and connections to electricity, gas and heating, in middle management. And when it comes to women in top man- or procedures relating to geological exploration and mining. This agement positions, EMS is certainly among the world’s leading will require amendments to certain laws and other regulations, energy companies, with women holding 56% of leading positions. and in practise this would mean all procedures being carried out electronically, without the need to visit What are your priorities for the period ahead when it comes to the work of the I can state with pride that, counters, and all important information relevant for one investor being published in ministry? while I was in charge of the a completely transparent manner, from the - The main task of the Ministry, together Ministry of Construction, publishing of price lists, precisely defining with all enterprises operating in the energy sector, is to ensure Serbia is a country with Transport and Infrastructure, procedures and the possibility of monitoring cases, to statistics on the efficiency of energy stability, that we have enough en- of 61% of employed women, energy companies. ergy and energy sources, of sufficient quality. Energy, along with mining, is important 43% were at the first level of You’ve said that the Washington Agreefor stability, but that’s not all. These two decision-making ment also implies the diversification of sectors can contribute much more to the the “sometimes closed” domestic energy GDP growth and development of Serbia. There are many projects market. What does that mean in practical terms? that have been launched in previous years and that need to be Diversifying natural gas supply is an issue of Serbia’s energy completed or accelerated, as well as new ones that are in some security, because Serbia has small quantities of its own natural preparatory phase. There is a lot of potential in the energy and gas and relies on imports of this energy source. That’s why it’s mining sector that almost isn’t utilised at all, and that’s something important to have the possibility of acquiring gas from several we will deal with in this department. different directions, but also from different sources. It is important

Serbia has all the required conditions to also be an important for Serbia to have as many partners as possible, just like we have corridor and hub for energy and energy sources in this part of in the transport infrastructure, where projects are implemented Europe, just as it already is in transport, thanks to investments by European, American, Chinese, Russian, Turkish, Azerbaijani and in infrastructure during the previous period. This means making other world companies. the Turkish Stream pipeline operational, as well as building a gas In that sense, the Washington Agreement represents a chance interconnection towards Bulgaria, which is important for diversify- for Serbia to gain new partners in this sector, alongside those ing gas supply sources, expanding the underground gas storage that we currently have. Everything that is being done, every step facility in Banatski Dvor, then building the Trans-Balkan Corridor, taken in this sector, will be in the interest of Serbia and its citizens. investing in oil and product pipelines, and strengthening the dis- Diversification is one topic, while another topic is Gazivoda Lake. tribution network for electricity and gas. Energy infrastructure is The economic agreement from Washington provides the possibiljust as important as transport infrastructure for economic growth ity for Gazivoda Lake to be used for the benefit of all, because it

is an important natural resource. I don’t see why we shouldn’t consider projects that would include the participation of Serbs from Kosovo, as well as foreign partners. I think that divisions like those during the Cold War era have long since been overcome. violence, as long as child marriages are not eradicated, as long as women are paid less than men for the same work, and up to 16% less, or as long as women spend twice as much time on household chores and caring for children and the elderly, we won’t have finished the job.

Women account for half of the govern- What can and should the government ment today. Is that merely numerical do to improve the position of women, equality or essential equality? who have carried a greater burden First of all, let me remind you that in of redundancies, work risks and in2014, at the suggestion of then Prime creased workloads at home during the Minister and today President Aleksandar pandemic? Vučić to form the Coordination Body for With the express intention of respondGender Equality, Serbia already stood ing in the best way to the challenges out as the only country in Europe that of the Coronavirus pandemic and the had a deputy prime minister in charge of crisis it has caused, which impacts on coordinating the work of all institutions women and men in various ways, the in this field. This highlights our strong Coordination Body for Gender Equality political readiness to improve the posi- has sent a list of recommendations to the tion of women in Serbia, as well as our Serbian Chamber of Commerce, NALED, unquestionable commitment to create equal conditions for all citizens. And just as the formation of the Coordination Serbia has all the required conditions to also be an the American Chamber of Commerce, the Council of Foreign Investors, the Serbian Association of Managers and Body was an important advancement, important corridor and hub for the Ministry of Economy, encouraging I’m also convinced that, with the larger number of women in government, we energy and energy sources in employers to respect the economic principles of women’s empowerment will send a clear message that Serbia this part of Europe, just as it prescribed by the United Nations during is developing into a society of equal opportunities for all, and I’m personally happy about that. It is important that already is in transport, thanks to investments in infrastructure this time of crisis. It is known that women are at the front lines in the fight against the Coronawomen’s voices are heard in places where during the previous period virus pandemic, because they represent decisions are made, and I’m certain that the majority of those employed in the the new female ministers in the Government will prove that they health and social sector, retail chains, care jobs and taking care of can lead Serbia forward with their knowledge and dedicated work. their own household and family members. All of this puts them in an unfavourable and more sensitive position. That’s why - with the You are the president of the Coordination Body for Gender support of the EU Delegation to Serbia, the British Embassy and Equality in Serbia. How equal are women really in Serbia today? UN Women - we sent recommendations to employers to include I’m proud of everything we’ve done over the past few years to activities in their business operations that will reduce the gender improve the position of women in our society. Along with the gap that exists in every society, which includes, among others, flexlaws and strategies that we’ve adopted and improved, which also ible working hours, job preservation, supporting female victims represent a prerequisite for our further development and path of violence or directing donations towards organisations that towards the European Union, we are one of the few countries provide assistance to vulnerable categories of women. in the world that has introduced gender responsive budget- There has been a positive response to this initiative, for ing, in such a way that the introduction of gender principles in example one of the organisations that supported the initiative budget planning has become a legal obligation. The fact that is the Serbian Association of Managers, which brings together we are making continuous progress in this area is also shown more than 400 managers with over 70,000 employees. I’m sure by the Gender Equality Index, which we were the first country that it is only through joint efforts and cooperation that we can outside the EU to calculate and on which we achieved a result contribute to reducing the negative socio-economic impact of the that was 3.4 points better between two reports. crisis on all citizens of Serbia and ensuring the fastest possible

However, there is still much more work ahead of us, because recovery of our economy, which both women and men should as long as a single woman is the victim of domestic and partner contribute to equally.

To what extent does the Gender Equality Index reflect the real government, as well as the greater participation of women in situation in Serbia? And how can we use it as the basis to see local assemblies. the broader context of the position of women in our country The domains of time and money are where we need to do and the surrounding area? more. Women still earn less than men, up to 16 per cent less, Serbia was the first, and until recently only, non-EU country to which is also the European average, and spend much more calculate the Gender Equality Index, as an important statisti- time in “unpaid” shifts, doing housework, taking care of their cal instrument that shows us achievements in various areas. In household and children, which leaves them in a situation in which the meantime, with a view to our example, Montenegro, North they don’t have time to dedicate to themselves, to their health, Macedonia and Albania have followed suit, and I’m glad that we career advancement, recreation... A study we conducted recently are an example of good practice in that. I can state proudly that Serbia has improved its score by 3.4 points in less Our greatest success in achieving gender equality has been than three years, and in order for readers reached in the domain of power, primarily thanks to the increased to understand how great a success this is, I will say - without intending to sound arrogant - that Serbia has made a greater participation of women in the national assembly and government, as well as the greater participation of women in local assemblies shift between two reporting periods than the European average. While a shift of 1.2 points was recorded at shows that women spend twice as much time in these unpaid the EU level, Serbia made almost three times as much progress jobs on average. So, when they come home from work they are in less than three years. And what is also important is that we awaited by another, unpaid shift. And if that was measured in haven’t recorded any negative changes in any field. monetary terms, they would earn 546 euros a month, while the

Our greatest success in achieving gender equality has value of these jobs is equivalent to 21% of the country’s GDP. been reached in the domain of power, primarily thanks to the I don’t want that to be taken for granted and I’m fighting for increased participation of women in the national assembly and these unpaid jobs to be recognised and valued.

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