Serbia Launches eSick Leave System

Following announcements by representatives of the Ministry of Health, the implementation of the electronic sick leave registry (e-sick leave) system has officially begun in Serbia. Implementation has begun in four Belgrade municipalities, and the system will gradually expand and be introduced in other health centers in Serbia.

This system aims to simplify administrative procedures and reduce paperwork, but above all, to ease the process of taking sick leave—for both employees and employers.

It is also important to note that the electronic sick leave system is an option, not an obligation. Therefore, employees still have the choice between electronic and paper-based submission of sick leave certificates to their employer.

Once this system becomes fully operational, employees will no longer be required to personally deliver certificates of temporary incapacity for work – commonly known in Serbian as “doznake” – in paper form to their employer, as this can now instead be done electronically, still within the legal deadline of 3 days. However, for this new system to be fully implemented, active participation is needed from both employees and employers: employees must be registered in the e-Zdravlje (e-Health) system, and in that case, they can opt for electronic issuance of the certificate, while employers must be technically equipped to receive such electronic documents. For employees who are not registered in the mentioned system, as well as for those who request it, the certificate (“doznaka”) can still be printed and delivered in paper form.

From the standpoint of personal data protection, it is important to emphasize that employers will not have access to employees’ medical documentation. They will only be able to see basic information, such as the start date and duration of the sick leave.

For more information on this topic, you can contact us via email at: marta.lukovic@tsg.rs or office@tsg.rs