Ghana is in advanced negotiations with the Republic of Serbia to secure a portion of the 100,000 work permits Serbia plans to issue this year, local media report.
This is part of a proposed labor mobility agreement aimed at creating employment opportunities for young Ghanaians and deepening bilateral ties, writes the Ghana News Agency.
This was announced during a joint press conference in Accra, addressed by Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Đurić, who is on a three-day official visit to Ghana.
The labor mobility agreement aligns with Ghana’s broader employment strategy and its aspiration for international opportunities for the country’s growing population of educated youth.
Ghanaian media reports that it also addresses Serbia’s efforts to maintain productivity and economic growth, due to a shortage of manpower caused by a declining birth rate and shrinking workforce.
The Serbian minister’s visit, which includes meetings with the Speaker of Parliament and ministers of agriculture, defense, youth and sports, and tourism, marks an important milestone in the growing partnership between Ghana and Serbia. The two sides are expected to formalize several agreements in the coming months, including a Memorandum of Understanding on labor mobility.
Ablakwa emphasized that the discussions were strategically focused, considering Ghana’s young population and the high demand for skilled and semi-skilled labor in Serbia, which is currently struggling with an aging workforce.
“Serbia has an older population and will need a labor mobility agreement, which will fully take advantage of Ghana’s very young population,” he said.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that Serbia plans to issue 100,000 work permits this year, and Ghana has expressed interest in fully utilizing this, so that we can have thousands of our young people working in Serbia,” he added.
He added that Ghana wants to be the second African country, after Egypt, to formalize a labor mobility agreement with Serbia.
The Labor Mobility Agreement is expected to cover sectors such as construction, healthcare, ICT, agriculture, and services – industries that increasingly need a young, energetic, and qualified workforce in Serbia and the surrounding region.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister highlighted the mutual benefits of the agreement, stating that it will help reduce unemployment in Ghana while simultaneously meeting Serbia’s labor needs.
In addition to labor mobility, the two countries are also exploring cooperation in education, with Serbia offering scholarships to Ghanaian students under the “World in Serbia” initiative.
Source: N1, Photo: MFA
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