Montenegro plans a permanent seasonal employment model based on Croatia’s experience
Montenegro plans to adopt a law on permanent seasonal workers by the end of 2026, following a model that Croatia has been applying for years. The goal is to retain the domestic workforce and provide greater job security between tourist seasons.
Labour shortages are among the greatest challenges facing Montenegrin tourism. During the summer and winter seasons, the economy is estimated to be short of 20,000 to 25,000 seasonal workers, making hotels, restaurants and other tourism businesses increasingly reliant on foreign workers.
To reduce this pressure, Montenegro is preparing a new system of permanent seasonal employment. The bill is currently in parliamentary procedure from February 2026, and its adoption is expected by the end of the year.
Compensation and insurance also outside the tourist season
The proposed model would allow workers to maintain the continuity of their insurance coverage and work experience during the months when they are not employed due to the seasonal nature of the work.
According to information provided by Biznis.rs, the state would provide compensation during the winter months of approximately 108 euros, while employers would participate in the financing of compulsory insurance.
The model should facilitate the re-employment of the same workers in the next season and reduce the need for constantly seeking new employees.
Employers generally support such an approach, but warn that the proposed compensation amount may not be sufficient to retain workers who can earn significantly higher incomes abroad.
Croatian experience shows the limitations of this model
The Montenegrin proposal is based on the Croatian model of a permanent seasonal worker, which provided financial support to workers during the off-season period.
However, Croatia has since stopped implementing the measure in its earlier form. Although the model helped employers retain some of the workers, the problem of a shortage of personnel was gradually being resolved by hiring foreign nationals.
Therefore, it will be particularly important for Montenegro to align state subsidies with the real needs of employers and the expectations of workers.
The tourism sector still depends on foreign workers
The scale of the problem is also shown by the fact that the Montenegrin Government approved a quota for 2026 of 28,988 permits for temporary residence and work for foreigners, Of which 6,150 are allocated to accommodation and catering activities.
The new law could help hotel owners and restaurateurs retain experienced employees, reduce the costs of re-employment and training, and ensure more stable business operations.
But success will not depend solely on the legal framework. Salaries, accommodation, working conditions and the possibility of professional development will remain crucial for workers' decision whether to spend the next season in Montenegro or in another tourist market.
