Gender Equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Promote gender equality and the position of women and men in the Republic of Serbia; contribute to strengthening the role of women in business decision-making and society in general.

For NIS company, gender equality is not only a declarative orientation, but its practice that is continuously being improved

NIS believes that fostering diversity not only improves the work environment, but also contributes to the company’s growth and competitiveness. The diversity of experiences, cultures, ideas and views creates the prerequisites for innovation and efficient business, and therefore everyone is provided with equal opportunities for employment, development and advancement, regardless of gender, age, nationality and other personal characteristics. The goal is to build an inclusive work environment in which gender equality is one of the fundamental principles.

Through a strategy that promotes diversity, the company’s priority remains the balanced representation of both genders in all positions, so that teams are as diverse as possible and ready for successful exchange of experiences and development. All aspects of work at NIS are focused on creating conditions for continuous growth – both of the organisation and of the employees themselves. When talking about gender equality, the following initiatives and benefits available to employees are particularly noteworthy:

  • Gradual return of mothers from maternity leave – for the first two working weeks after returning, mothers can work only four hours a day, with full pay.
  • Maternity leave allowance – for employees who are on maternity leave, leave of absence for childcare or special childcare, payment of the difference between the allowance and the basic salary is approved, which does not exceed five times the average salary at the level of the Republic of Serbia.
  • Encouraging women to work in sectors that are traditionally perceived as “male” – continuous support and education of women to work at NIS is being implemented, as well as for engagement in positions that require professional and technical skills.
  • Talent programs for young people – NIS implements various programs for high school graduates, students, and graduates without experience. In 2024, the percentage of participants in these programs was 54%.
  • “Respect Before All” Platform – a concept and platform was created with the aim of ensuring and promoting a work environment in which labour relations are in accordance with the highest standards of equality.

GENDER EQUALITY IN THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STRATEGY

In 2020, the Company began implementing a Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, which is based on the important principles of equality, inclusiveness, and openness for all employees. By implementing the action plan that follows this strategy, activities that include gender equality as a key segment continued in 2024. One of them is the cooperation with the organisation AFA (All for All), within which NIS supports a community and an online platform that enables women from various fields to participate in the exchange of ideas and education, as well as in professional projects. Additional activities include working with people with disabilities, both through cooperation with the organisation Youth with Disabilities Forum (which deals with improving the quality of life and position in society of people with disabilities), and through a new internship program for people with disabilities, the organisation of which began in 2024, with an official start in 2025.

INTERNAL REGULATIONS THAT PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

NIS has adopted a series of documents, namely the Equality Policy, the Diversity Policy, the Corporate Governance Code of NIS j.s.c. Novi Sad and the Code of Business Ethics, which define principles regarding employee representation at all levels and prescribe clear goals, implementation and reporting on results. These documents define the framework for better implementation of business strategy, as well as opportunities for achieving maximum performance and sustainable business, by giving everyone an equal chance for employment and decision-making – regardless of gender, age, nationality, or any other personal characteristics. The documents also explain new steps in the field of equality and inclusiveness, including goals related to gender equality and support for women in corporate structures.

NIS believes that nurturing diversity improves business on many levels – it strengthens it with diverse experiences, enriches it with different cultures, provides a variety of ideas and perspectives, and ensures competitiveness in the market.

PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT OF GENDER EQUALITY: WOMEN AS INITIATORS OF POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGES

In order to contribute to increasing the visibility and highlighting the importance of the topic of gender equality, representatives of the Company participate in various gatherings and panel discussions dedicated to this topic. Thus, the panel on the topic of gender equality was organized by the NIS Company and the Dnevnik newspaper and held on 26 August at the Cultural Station “Svilara” in Novi Sad, participated by Vadim Smirnov, Deputy CEO of the Company. Panellists included Maja Gojković, president of the Provincial Government of Vojvodina, and Dina Vučinić, speaker of the City Assembly of Novi Sad.

The panellists discussed the importance of gender equality, the position and influence of women on social and public life in Serbia, and also talked about the challenges faced by women in the professional segment.