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.

NIS equality policy is based on the principles of care, diversity, and equal opportunities for everyone.

The company prioritizes creating a culture where the equal rights of all employees are unconditionally respected and equal opportunities are available without any discrimination. Gender equality is a fundamental pillar of sustainable development, given that almost a third of NIS employees are women.Our employees enjoy numerous benefits that help them maintain a healthy work-life balance.

For instance, women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IF) and prescribed bed rest can work from home during the process. Pregnant women and new mothers have the flexibility to work from home for more than 2 days per month, exceeding the quota for their employees. Gradual return to work is possible for those on parental leave, single parants of children under 12 can work from home for more then two days per month, and mothers of first-graders enjoy a day off on Septembar 1.Workers on maternity leave, child care leave, or parental leave are reimbursed for the difference between the benefits amount determined by the municipal authorities and the basic salary of the employee for the month preceding the first month of the leave, plus past service benefit, insofar such difference does not exceed five average salaries in the Republic of Serbia, i.e. the maximum basic salary for contribution payments. All employees are offered equal opportunities in terms of professional growth and development. Women are well represented on all management levels, from entry-level jobs to top executive positions.

Many women actively participate in talent and development programs. In the previous season of the NIS Calling intership program, out of 47 participants, over 65 % were woman. In the second season of the NIS Energy program offering one-year trial employment in key positions to young professionals, out of 15 participants 40% were women.

In addition to caring for employes and supporting the development of the community, NIS recognizes the importance of supporting social initiatives. The company became a sponsor to the Women’s Centre association from the town of Užice. The centre was founded in 1998 to assist women from various sensitive groups, like women with disabilities, women experiencing domestic violence, single mothers, women over 45, and women living in rural areas. The centre now focuses on economic empowerment and provision of services to women in situations of violence. One of the organization’s initiatives is Retex, is an innovative centre for the collection and recycling of textiles. It employs women from vulnerable groups in an effort to establish an economically sustainable model of textile recycling and disposal of communal and industrial textile waste.

Given that Retex employs women with disabilities, caters to a specific market niche, relies on volunteer labor for the collection and sorting of textiles, and is not yet self-sustaining, NIS has decided to provide financial support to ensure its stable operation and secure employment of the women working there.