The Responsible Business Forum and Smart Kolektiv, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), presented the Most Inclusive Employer Awards for the second time to companies committed to fostering work environments where all employees have equal opportunities for advancement and feel included and valued.
This year, Generali Osiguranje and Erste Bank, along with SMEs INAK and Uspon, were recognized as the most inclusive employers for 2024. The awards for significant contributions to the employment of persons with disabilities went to Generali Osiguranje in the large company category and INAK d.o.o. in the small and medium enterprise category.
At the conference’s opening, representatives from USAID, the Embassies of Germany and Switzerland in Serbia, and the Responsible Business Forum addressed the audience.
“I would like to commend the companies of the Responsible Business Forum and the Network of Employers for Employment of Persons with Disabilities, these companies, which include some of the Serbia’s largest employers, demonstrate strong commitment to employ persons with disabilities and to create more inclusive and equitable working environment. This is so important because nearly 11,000 individuals remain unemployed in Serbia, estimates suggest that 70 percent of them live in poverty and more than half of them depend on social benefits,” said Naida Zečević-Been, Director of Office of Democratic and Economic Growth at USAID.
Neven Marinović, Director of the Responsible Business Forum, highlighted the growing focus on sustainable business and ESG. “As pioneers in this field, we want to emphasize that ESG is not just about standards or certifications—it’s about transforming business to integrate societal interests, environmental protection, inclusion, and transparency. We are particularly pleased with the emphasis on inclusion and the employment of vulnerable groups in collaboration with partners like the Youth with Disabilities Forum, as well as the key topics we address through the ‘Sustainable Development for All’ platform, such as the private sector’s approach to biodiversity, access to financing, and many others,” said Marinović.
The Most Inclusive Employer Awards also featured a special recognition for promoting employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, aiming to highlight the importance of creating an open, inclusive, and accessible labour market. This initiative is a core objective of the Job-Fit Project, under which the awards were established.
“This award confirms we’re on the right path and motivates us to keep going. Inclusion is not a goal but an ongoing process that benefits us all,” said Ivana Mulić, Organizational Culture Manager at Generali Osiguranje Srbija.
Nevenka Kostadinova, entrepreneur and owner of INAK, emphasized that “this recognition affirms our company’s strategic commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, contributing to the business community and a fairer society.”
“Together, we drive change and build a culture of equal opportunities for our clients, employees, and society as a whole,” said Sonja Konakov Svirčev, Corporate Social Responsibility, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Erste Banka Serbia.
Vladimir Krstić, Co-owner and General Manager of Uspon, expressed gratitude, noting that the award recognized their corporate values, such as the importance of inclusion and equal rights for all social groups. He added that the award belongs to their greatest asset—their employees.
The event’s main session focused on the inclusion of persons with disabilities and its positive impact on innovation and organizational culture. Past recipients of the Most Inclusive Employer Award shared practical solutions to improve policies, practices, and support programs for employees with disabilities.
In the second part of the conference, 3 parallel round tables were organized, the Youth with Disabilities Forum hosted one round table on the topic: Employment of Persons with Disabilities.
The CSR & ESG Forum and the Most Inclusive Employer Award ceremony were held as part of the “Job Fit: Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities” project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Youth with Disabilities Forum. Other project partners are the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, Caritas of Serbia, Smart Kolektiv and the Center for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities.
